In the last month there has been a stunning rash of refinery closures and fires - any one of which should have sent gas prices upward - but with a flagging economy, a grim demand picture, and a glut of surplus, gas prices are destined to decline.

Crude and gasoline prices are going to drop, and drop hard.

Dateline:  Terry, Montana

By Charles Langley - On Friday we reported that as much as 17% of the fuel manufactured in the State of California was threatened by two separate refinery fires.  Normally a disaster like this would result in near-instant price hikes, yet prices dropped over the weekend.

The Crude Reality, September 20, 2009 5:30 PM MDT -- You will soon be paying less than $2 per gallon again for gasoline and diesel fuel and crude oil will go back down into the 40's.

Charles Langley - Today we are predicting that gas prices will increase another two to six cents by Thursday. We just confirmed that Tesoro's refinery (supplies Shell) in Wilmington is having problems.

Tecnorati blog ID ca8nge4bzj

By Charles Langley, Manager, UCAN gas project.  Note: since 9AM this morning gas prices in San Diego have increased to $3.114 a gallon, up 6/10 of a cent since this morning.

UPDATED 9:00 AM LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 - Gas prices have climbed almost three cents over the weekend reaching a record high for the year 2009 of $3.108.  (Scroll down for statistics).

The van der Valk Gas Price Advisory for August 31, 2009 - High gas prices cloud the horizon