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Gas prices reach records in area
Published Friday, April 18, 2008
Photo by Zak Holtan
Gas prices reached $3.39 at Stop-n-Go in Fergus Falls on Thursday.
Many Fergus Falls drivers were probably in shock Thursday if they drove past a Stop-n-Go gas station.
That’s because gas prices at the two Fergus Falls stations climbed to $3.39, triggering a new “sticker-shock” that seems destined to continue in the weeks and months ahead.
While gas prices at most Fergus Falls gas stations hovered around the $3.24-$3.26 marks this morning, changes will be on the way.
Crude oil prices have reached a record high of $115 a barrel, driving up prices in Fergus Falls and other Otter Tail County communities. Gas was selling for $3.35 per gallon at four stations in Perham on Thursday night, according to the website minnesotagasprices.com.
“It’s unfortuante, but it’s not unexpected,” said Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs for Minnesota and Iowa AAA.
According to Weinholzer, crude oil prices have been rising steadily over the past few months. The recent surge at the pump is a result of costs being passed down.
Jason Toews, co-owner of twincitiesgasprices.com, said the increase in crude oil comes at a bad time of the year.
“That coupled with the spring and summer rise demand spells disaster,” he said. “Gas prices are always cheaper in the winter than they are in the summer.”
The increase in summer activities usually means a few more trips to the gas pump, especially in northern states like Minnesota, where cold temperatures and short days mean people don’t do as much driving in the winter.
“Small percentages of increase in consumption does make a big difference,” said Toews.
A struggling U.S. economy, pipline distubances in the Middle East, bad weather in Mexico and an upset in the crude oil market are also partially responsible for the price increase, said Weinholzer.
“It’s not one big issue other than the fact that crude oil is selling at $115 dollars a barrel,” she said.
Throughout the midwest, gasoline prices are expected to peak at $3.60 -3.70 a gallon by Memorial Day. When the temperatures start dropping towards the end of summer, gas prices are likely to follow.
But that doesn’t mean an overall decrease in price from now until then. Last year at this time, consumers were paying $2.718 a gallon. Toews said that, although prices go up in the summer and down in the winter, they are, overall, rising higher. Currently, the average U.S. price is $3.43.8 a gallon. Minnesota prices are averaging just about ten cents under at $3.329.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by imjustagirl (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 12:53 p.m.
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Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you MEDIA! Everytime the media reports gas prices may rise, dubya and dicks family businesses say "alright, the've opened the door for us. Time to make some more moolah. See if we can break last quarters record profits."
Posted by thethinker (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So let me get this straight. US consumption of gas has dropped each of the last 4 months and US production of gas has either remained steady or increased and yet we have a gas shortage - or some other verbage - that equates to higher oil prices and higher gas prices. Hmmmmm.....Yes, it seems other nations are increasing their gas useage but you know what (and I think I speak for just about ALL americans here), I don't care at all about those nations. I recently saw a headline showing ND has the largest oil reserves (possibly) in the continental US. Glad to see those oil wells standing idle in western ND. Why pump that oil out of our own ground when we can keep importing oil from a great ally like Argentina (if you don't know, Chavez, the insane "president" of that dictatorship, hates the US and calls us "satans"...yet 40% of his entire GNP is due to exporting oil to the USA - and Citgo in particular).
I wonder when that straw will actually break the camels back and the People of the USA will demand their govt do something about this. Maybe when we are all forced to bicycle to work....
Posted by AndyMosity (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know...Big Oil has been operating the same way for over 50 years. They're not going to change...they never will. Here's a nice speech an actor by the name of Ronald Reagan made in 1948, and listen what he has to say about Big Oil way back then, and ask yourselves if anything has changed?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uJDhS4oUm0M&a...
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone please tell me, What oil producing country increased the price of their crude oil last night or yesterday or even last week or last month? The answer is none. Not one. The only place crude oil increased in price is on wall street, in the minds of commodities speculators. We all pay the price so these twenty something yuppies can gamble with your future.
Posted by sassica (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 2:43 p.m.
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Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gasoline is 27 cents a gallon in Venezuala (sp). And President Hugo Chavez is a three time elected President of that country. Not a dictator. He only referred to our wantabe dictator named Bush as the "devil" and holds a great deal of respect for ordinary americans. You folks voted for Big Oil Bush and Cheney aka "the village idiots" so you all are getting just what you deserve. Get your facts right. You all are also busy little beavers converting corn into ethanol driving up the price of food so you best not complaint about the price of food either. In case you weren't aware, we can get all the ethanol we need (made from sugar cane) from Brazil just as soon as our government lifts that stupid 54 cent a gallon import tariff. No need to use corn.
Posted by eripsni (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the Rodent. Speculators are really to blame...it's not as much an issue of current supply/demand as it is a future one.
Posted by Connman (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm. Don't suppose high gas prices have anything to do the "energy plan" developed by VP Cheney and those oil executives during their secret meetings in 2001...when the price of gas was about $1.50.
Posted by gumball (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gas prices are up "Chip" cause the oil companies are not upgrading/expanding their refineries. Out here in downtown Seattle, I saw Premium gas selling for $4.029/gallon this morning. We have the highest gas taxes in the west so it bloats the price a bit. A refinery in Bakersfield, CA went down for a week and mysteriously gas in Seattle went up 12 cents/gal overnight. Two refineries up by Anacortes, WA shut down for maintainance and prices shot up about 15 cents/gallon. It's just a game they play,a "SHELL" game. I'm taking my summer vacation in Fergus. The gas,food, and booze is cheaper. I can blow off fireworks and "hang with the locals" and have a great vacation with more bang for the buck.
Posted by chirocorlin (anonymous) on April 18, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get ready folks to pay more than that, I have been paying about $3.60 a gallon for the cheap stuff down here in Northwest Indiana for the last few weeks and I am sure it will be much higher soon.
Posted by Mauibill (anonymous) on April 19, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We're paying $4.18 a gallon for regular gas here on Maui. In the remote coastal town of Hana, the price was around $4.55 a gallon. Our cereal is at $7.00 a box. Milk is over $5.00 gal. I walk 1.6 miles to work. I guess it's the price you pay to live in paradise. I think these gas prices are called "conditioning". They're just getting us used to high prices and then when they go down, we'll be happy with $3.50 gal. How long do you think it'll take to start drilling in ND?!
Posted by sametoyou (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes,mauibill,it is the price you have to pay to live in paradise! I also agree that they condition us that way. I, and anyone with any common sense, knows that they can give rebates until China owns the whole world, and the economy is going to keep going down the drain until they get control of the fuel situation! I think the only way to get a handle on it, will be to take it out of the stock market! Also, N.D.,claims 82% of their wells are pumping as of a week or two ago. Reported by the N.D. office of energy, on the Joel Hietcamp show.
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