US gas prices spike; refinery problems cited

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JONATHAN FAHEY

NEW YORK (AP) - A surprise surge in gasoline prices is taking some of the fun out of summer.

The national average for a gallon of gas at the pump has climbed to $3.67, a rise of 34 cents since July 1. An increase in crude oil prices and problems with refineries and pipelines in the West Coast and Midwest, including a fire in California, are mostly to blame.

Analysts don't expect gas prices to get as high as they did in April, when 10 states passed $4 a gallon and the U.S. average topped out at $3.94. But this is still unwelcome news in this sluggish economy, since any extra money that goes to fill gas tanks doesn't get spent on movies and dinners out.

The rising prices could also put pressure on President Barack Obama in the heat of his re-election campaign.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120810/DA0IM2LO3.html

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George Matkowski, of Montpelier, reaches into his wallet to pay for gas, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Montpelier, Vt. A rise in the price of crude oil and problems with refineries and pipelines in the West Coast and Midwest have caused prices at the pump to surge upward. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

[Panasonic]

1. Have the feds inspect the refineries every week.

All refinery fires are suspicious until further notice.

If the fire was intentional, then the prices should go down, not up. And light the moron who attempted to jack up the gas price on fire with his own greed of oil.

[DJ13]

2. I think we need regional emergency refineries, like the SPR is for oil reserves

The oil companies only get away with this because they refuse to have additional refining capacity to take up the slack when they do their "surprise maintenance" or suffer a fire.

Hell, they even use the transition to winter blends as an excuse the last several years.

Get some regional backup capacity in place as a matter of national security (its obvious the oil co.'s wont be capable of refining the SPR should an energency arise).

[atreides1]

3. Not really surprised

The refinery fire in California, the shutting down of refineries on the East Coast...anyone who has been paying attention knew this was coming.

And you can't help but think that some of it may be political...the Republicans and their cronies have been doing everything they can to make sure that Obama doesn't get a second term...with bogus voter ID laws, refinerries shutting down, and Ohio creating two classes of voters...the Republicans are out to destroy this country.

[billky]

4. Gas prices higher..

But it doesn't matter what causes gas to go up, President Obama always gets the blame around here, I don't know about other places.

[Missycim]

5. I know most here dont like the idea

of new refineries but a few have to be built so if a fire takes one out we dont get gouged at the pump.

[high density]

6. I live in New England and I consume zero gas produced by a refinery in California

Yet my prices have gone up sky high practically overnight. This system is so rigged it's a joke.

[AlbertCat]

7. refinery problems cited

I cite the fact they can raise or lower prices at will for any reason they want.... like any illegal monopoly.

[Equate]

8. A gallon of gas here was $3.22 yesterday

today it's $3.42, a .20 jump over night. Just another case of the oil cartels gouging us but we all know that the RW and repubs will blame Pres. Obama.

[L0oniX]

9. This is bull shit!