Friday June 5, 6PM - For the last 60 days gas prices have risen in San Diego by an average of nearly a penny every 12 hours. If this trend continues (and it probably will) local gas prices should top $3.00 a gallon on average by Thursday afternoon - a 58% increase since the beginning of the year.
$3 a gallon is a critical psychological price barrier. On January First, San Diego gasoline averaged just $1.84 a gallon. In early December of 2008 it had plunged to a low of $1.71 a gallon.
According to UCAN's Gas Project manager, Charles Langley, the problem isn't high oil prices, rather, it is a lack of competition.
"The problem is that too few companies in California have too much control over the supply of gasoline" says Langley. "The major oil companies have learned that maintaining high prices is all about inventory management, and right now they would rather cooperate insetead of compete. The oil industry understands that competition is bad for business because it leads to cost-cutting."
Langley points to the fact that oil inventories in the USA are at a 19-year high, and demand for gasoline is down by at least 10%. In that type of a market, he says, "the only way to increase prices is by restricting supply."
Gasoline Statistics from UCAN
Average price today = $2.912 (Friday June 5th)
Average Price this day last week = $2.72
Average price this day last month = $2.367 (May 5th)
Average price two months ago = $2.33 (April 5th)
Average price January 1 = $1.84
Average price this day last year = $4.44
gas price increase
Year 2010....continues increase in gas price. I'm here in California for a vacation.
nature essays
Chat Sohbet Fıkra Güncel
Chat Sohbet Fıkra Güncel Haberler mIRC Cinsel Sohbet toplist
Current Gas Price Rocket
Although some say it's a healthy economic sign, with unemployment as high as 9.4% nationally, alternatives are few. Look for bus ridership to soar in the following weeks. Car sales still sag due to old model overstocks and low MPG ratings. The high cost of living in So Cal inhibits Hybrid Car purchase consideration. Car pooling could be modist alternative if neighbors are willing. MTA has bumped prices for standing in over-crowded buses with fewer routes. The Coaster is still not affordable to many short range commuters; while the trolley services mainly students and car owners. Bikes don't have a city infrastructure that allows for a safe commute and riders seldolm know or care about the rules of the road. There are few alternatives unless you're modivated to start your day at 4 AM and get home at 7 PM. look for prices to soar to $4.00 due to our love of convienance and indifference.
Poor public transit
It is rarely mentioned, but horrible public transit in SoCal is a California tradition that was created in part by GM. In the 1930s GM PAID the city of Los Angeles $8 million to rip up its trolley tracks.
Right now, California is the world's third largest market for gasoline. The GM "plan" to develop Southern California as a "One-person-one car" market was successful, and the influence has extnded to San Diego.
Our City Fathers (and "mothers") have consistently agreed to raise the rates on the bus, the trolley, and the Coaster whenever gas prices have increased.
The policy is perverse, discourages public transit, and harms the working poor the very most. It is especially perverse for the City to raise public transit prices when there are high gas prices because the City taxes gasoline purchases on a percentage - this means that the higher the price of gas, the more money is rolling into the City's coffers.
It is during these times of profit, however, that the City chooses to RAISE the price of public transit.
Disgusting.