Is gas price increases only affecting the united states' economy?
368531
No. I think it affects the whole world. Oil is a global necessity.
714627
I don't think so. Although gas has gone up since the election. I think the prices were down before the elections to help the republicans hold there power, that way the republicans can help them. I look for gas to steadily increase so at the next elections the republicans can blame it on the Dems. The stock market is controlled by the big corp. They won't let it go down on purpose. The hard part will be trying to keep the C.E.O.s hands off the employees pension funds. Luckily my pension is funded through my union and the gov. watches unions like a hawk. They don't seem to watch company pension plans very close.
222226
Yep, I'll speculate, they are giving us shit gas. I'ts 2.65 in Wisconsin and only goes half the distance in my car too. There are places where gas isn't treated here, but now are great goverment wants to poison gas across the state. One way of not raising the taxes elsewhere, just buy twice as much gas. Use 2x's the amount-get2x's the tax.
1120593
They are but prices for gas right now are through the roof. Try at least $3.50 for a gallon of gas. Everything is more expensive. There are a lot of locals who don't like tourist/ military here.
430448
I think we will probably see gas go to $3.75 a gallon this summer.  I drove to New York this past weekend and a gallon of regular gas was $2.80 and super was $3.05 (Ultra was $3.11)   I really feel sorry for all those people with their super big SUV's.  I think that as long as we keep on making these large cars that are like houses on wheels and keep paying to fuel up the prices are not going to come down...  just think what will happen if Iraq gets sanctions imposed on them by the west....
903450
First, there has never been a shortage of gas or oil, if you watch when it comes time for travelers to starting vacationing or warmer weather starts, gas prices go way up then by fall after Labor Day they go down.  We have more oil that people don't even know about.  Our Pres. doesn't want this know but we have plenty, we don't have to buy from Iran or anywhere we have enough resources in America.
68168
Gas prices are set based on supply and demand. If more people are using gas or there is a lower amount of gas being produced then the prices will go up.\n\nThe recent increase in prices is probably due to the growing tension with Iran. If for some reason the oil from Iran is cut off, there will be less production.
64539
Gas/Oil everytime anything happens anywhere prices go up.\n\n\nGuy 1 "sir a mouse farted in Juarez"\nGuy 2 "raise the price of fuel now!!!"
989569
Truthfully and without sarcasm: no. Plain and simple. The hike in gas isn't just because of us invading Iraq. More and more people are using gas: it's the law of supply and demand. If the demand for a product goes up and there's a little supply (there really isn't a small supply, but these countries have to supply the whole world) the price goes up. Plus, with us being in the Middle East, other huge oil producing countries like Iran--especially with the controversy over their nuclear weapons program--might sell less oil to us, thus lowering the supply with the high demand, increasing the price.  And as long as the American people can and will pay for the gas, they'll keep selling it.  Also, as a result of whatever sanctions or mandates are out there on some foreign oils, prices will go up.  Just because there are oil fields in Iraq, doesn't mean that we went in there for that. Why would we do that? If the gas prices were moderate while Saddam was in power, without this huge hike in prices, why would we go in there specifically for oil? What would you do if you suspected a foreign power was invading you to overthrow you, take your money from the oil away and put it in their pockets? You'd do the same thing Saddam was doing (sabotaging oil fields and the pipelines).  The only reason why the oil prices went up to begin with during the Invasion was because Saddam felt that he wasn't doing anything wrong (like the genocide, even building up his military) and that the only reason the Coalition (led by the U.S.) was invading his country was because of the oil. And when the oil prices get high enough, don't you think people will find different venues around them? Like more carpooling, public transportation, bicycles. I know when they get so high that it's really burning a whole in my pocket, I'm buying a train pass.
386567
Let's take a look at a few facts.  First, the cost of crude oil for each gallon of gas sold in this country has gone up from about 35 cents per gallon in 1999 to $1.59 per gallon in 2006.   So ... crude oil prices go up by 454% over a period of seven years.  How much did gas prices go up during the same period?  Try 162%.  Looks to me like things could be worse.\n\nSo ... did George Bush set those crude oil prices?  Did the oil companies go out there and set the prices that high?  Helllloooo!  Do you think the oil producing countries like Saudi Arabia might have had anything to do with it?  Is it possible that the ever-increasing worldwide demand for crude oil was a factor?  How about the fact that oil exploration slowed several years ago when crude was selling for under $20 a barrel?  Now that the price is so much higher many more companies are getting into the exploration business ... but it takes somewhere around 5 years from discovery of an oil deposit to actual production.  The price of oil didn't start its uphill swing until about 2004.  Do the math.  You also have the fact that oil is a commodity that is traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.  Traders have much to do about setting prices.  Do you suppose that George Bush is calling these traders in to coach them on just what those prices should be?  That's what the Democrats want you to believe.\n\nIn short, when supplies increase and demand decreases.
797971
Yes there has.  Due to the falling price of wholesale crude on the international commodities market, OPEC announced an intent to cut back production of crude.  Further, as we head into winter months, heating oils and diesel fuel (for shipping of goods) has a spike in consumption.\n\nWhat this means is the volatility of the crude, fuel, gasoline, and heating oil markets are directly effected by the speculators on the market itself.  What you are seeing is a market response to speculator manipulation of the price.  It has nothing to do with the elections, just brokers and individual investors trying to make a quick buck.\n\nThe best response to this would be a massive investment in the ability of the US market to refine a greater quantity of our imported crude, and to explore even greater quantities of crude from domestic sources.
368718
Some of the prices are artificially inflated. \n\nHowever, gas prices in the US are still lower than in most countries. Go to Germany or England and pay the equivilant we pay per gallon for a liter. \n\nI do think that many of the companies are taking advantage of teh recoupment of defense oil reserves and the war against terror in order to boost their profits.\n\nOn a final note, though, the war in Iraq was not about oil. If it were, we would be getting oil from Iraq. We are not, yet at least. Much of what excess Iraq is producing is going towards paying their reparations to many countries.
140706
well, here in california gas prices are almost three dollars and from what i've heard, the farther east, the higher the gas price... so you do the predicting and calculations, sorry i wasn't much help. good luck finding out!
471334
Gas prices are determined by supply and demand...\n\nAs gas prices rise......this causes consumers to drive less.....which stops consumers from using so much gas\nThe price will start to go back down....\n\nGasoline is very cheap......the same people who complain about the cost of gasoline....$3 a gallon....are the same people who spend $1.99 for a bottle of water, $4 for a pack of cigs, and $5 for lottery tickets.
302739
Poltical instability in the middle East is a cause for higher gas prices. It's ironic that Iraq is one of the least expensive places to buy gas in the world. The oil companies can't just jack up prices whenever they want, regardless of what you may have heard.
407383
Economists believe motorists will alter the way they drive once the average gas price moves to between $3.50 and $4.00 per gallon.\n\nThere won't be a mass revolt.  But people will continue to get upset.  Our elected officials will call for investigations.  And our leaders will be forced to seriously look at alternative fuels.\n\nIf our elected officials tamper with the price of oil and, the move to alternative fuels will slowed.  \n\nIf we truly want to embrace alternative fuels, then the market must lead us there.
1141234
When you hear the economy is doing good, is not the whole truth.\nYes, the economy is doing good for those in the stock market which is mostly the top 5% of people.Sometimes you will hear that job growth went up but look at the kind of jobs created, low paying service jobs. Inflation is not all its cracked up to be, they don`t figure energy cost like gas for cars and homes or food cost. Last year the world for the first time ever consumed more grain then we produced so look for food cost to rise. The American dollars worth has dropped 12% from 2002. If China wanted to invade a country by them all they would have to do to stop the U.S. is to call up the notes we owe them. I never seen a republican president spend so much money or expand that much government