Crazy gas prices

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Crazy in southern California is that they've stayed exactly the same. 3.30 before the oil prices went down, 3.30 now. No change at all.

Not that I'm even buying any.
 
Crazy in southern California is that they've stayed exactly the same. 3.30 before the oil prices went down, 3.30 now. No change at all.

Not that I'm even buying any.
Maybe because of all the taxes on gas in CA...:mad:
 
I bought it for 1.00 even in Ankeny yesterday. I only could fit 3 gallons in the tank but I bought it just on principal.
 
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It will be going up again soon as OPEC reached an agreement to decrease production.
 
I bought it for 1.00 even in Ankeny yesterday. I only could fit 3 gallons in the tank but I bought it just on principal.
Where at? I’m thinking I might stop there in my way home today even though I still have a half tank as I expect this to be about the bottom.
 
I get why prices are down in general just was wondering why the crazy fluctuations from town to town. Des Moines and Ankeny are usually pretty close to the same or at least not averaging close to $.50 difference.
Just to give everyone a quick rundown. Not only is supply side overflowing, demand side is very depressed. I work in a refinery. Wholesale gasoline prices are $0.30 per gallon. Typically a station or marketer, which is what the chain stations are, make 20 to 30 cents on the gallon. So gas should be $0.50 to $0.70 per gallon. So the gas stations down there are following the old formula. Every other station is making as much money on gasoline sales now as they can. So you'll see a ton of variety because they can make money at numerous price points.
 
Where at? I’m thinking I might stop there in my way home today even though I still have a half tank as I expect this to be about the bottom.

Kwik Star on Oralabor. They are always the cheapest from what I've seen.
 
Maybe because of all the taxes on gas in CA...:mad:

That's why they are high to begin with but not an explanation of the lack of any price drop as national and international prices plummet.

Actually just now starting to drop slightly where typical is 3.00 instead of 3.30, but really it was only the last few days, somehow the drop was off by an entire month from the rest of the nation.

Not that I'm buying gas at all but the lack of market related movement it suggests I'm getting screwed over by more than just high taxes under normal circumstances when I am buying gas.
 
California has several additional problems besides taxes. They mandate special fuels. And they had a major refinery go down in a giant fireball. So they can't sell all that extra gasoline in the Texas / Oklahoma area. Not clean enough for them.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/major-cal...-fire-temporarily-shuts-405/story?id=69224869

The Marathon refinery, according to ABC Los Angeles station KABC, is believed to be the largest refinery on the West coast. It processes around 360,000 barrels per day, the station reported.
 
I think there are some separate refiners in Minnesota / Wisconsin area that are probably using the N. Dakota and Canadian oil. That changes the pricing as well.
 
Ankeny and Altoona have always been 20-30 cents cheaper than the rest of Des Moines, even going from Johnston to Ankeny.

Why? I have no idea.
 
Kwik Star on Oralabor. They are always the cheapest from what I've seen.

Kwik Star currently showing $1.09 on Gasbuddy while Fleet Farm and Sams are $1.07.
Des Moines area still averages $1.67. At what point does this become price gouging or are gas stations not subject to that?
 
Kwik Star currently showing $1.09 on Gasbuddy while Fleet Farm and Sams are $1.07.
Des Moines area still averages $1.67. At what point does this become price gouging or are gas stations not subject to that?
It’s not gouging but I would argue it should be some form of price fixing.