Rising Gasoline Prices--Spiking In November

Our gas prices always go up around the holidays and I think that's because of the increase in travel. As of right now our gas is at $3.19/gallon and I'm sure it's going to continue to rise as the holidays get closer.

I dont know why prices always seem to go up in the winter. I guess it's from all the demand for heating. We have no heat in our house yet. We just cant afford the connection fees and the deposit they are requiring. It was 28 degrees outside this morning when we got up. We are using a kerosene heater in the mornings to help warm up the bottom floor of the house. Gas prices here are 2.99 a gallon. Kerosene runs us 3.19 a gallon. If prices go much higher we will be cold and hungry.

They certainly have bad timing! Although no time is good for an increase but as you say to hit us before the holiday season is another blow to the wallet as well as any faith in the gasolene companies. But you can rest assured that the big chiefs at the top won't take a wage cut to help the situation!

All I can come up with is that Thanksgiving is the most heavily traveled holiday of the year, and they want us to be all spiked up in plenty of time for that said holiday. They also figure that we will be using lots of gas for shopping, so they might as well get a chunk of it. It is sad, but it just drives more people to shop online, give gift cards, shop from catalogues.

$1.89? That's very very cheap. It's $3.11 here in Minnesota. My furnace has kicked in for a few nights in a row as it's been in the 20's & 30's at night. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

The problem is not surprising, Karen. Energy prices are going up, and not just because U.S. oil companies are raising prices, but because of other factors, as well. First, there is a war on. Two wars, to be more precise, one of necessity (Afghanistan) and one of choice (Iraq). The latter is taking place in a major oil producing nation (or what is left of it), so it's not exactly easy to get more oil out of there as it is. Even if it was just a war in Afghanistan, there'd still be a spike in fuel consumption by the military; B-2 Spirit bombers and all the planes, tanks, Bradleys, and hummers used by the armed forces don't run on good wishes. Second, most of the world's oil reserves lie in countries that don't very much like us (Iran, Venezuela) or unstable ones (Nigeria). I doubt seriously that OPEC and the various rulers give a hoot about our budgets, holiday shopping, and whatnot. In fact, they would love it if we all had financial troubles and collapsed in a pool of self-pity. Third, I have not heard anything from the Bush Administration that implies any call for energy conservation or sacrifices that would alleviate the problem.

Here in North Carolina, the gas prices are $2.90 on average. The cheapest I have seen this weekend is $2.87. I am almost scared to drive home to Florida to visit my family for Christmas, I am very anxious to see what the cost will be then!