With oil prices down and summer driving season winding down, gasoline prices are dropping.
Nationally, the average for unleaded gasoline stands at $3.49 this morning, down from $3.60 a month ago, according to AAA Fuel gauge. However, it’s still higher than the $2.70 price a year ago.
In Houston, the prices have settled to $3.26, and a few Houston-area gas stations are under the $3 mark this week. Those prices are down from the $3.42 price a month ago and the $3.89 high from this past May.
But again, it’s still much higher than $2.52 that drivers paid a year ago.
Doug Hager, 27, said he hasn’t noticed gas price dropping over the past four months.
The Houston electrician said he and his family are still feeling the pinch of $3-plus prices and reducing their driving when they can to save.
“We used to go to Kemah a lot on the weekends, but we don’t really do that much any more,” Hager said this morning as he filled up at a Shell station on Interstate 10 at Voss, where regular unleaded sold for $3.29 a gallon.
Sarah Schimmer, spokeswoman for AAA Texas, said it’s not unusual to see prices fall at the end of the summer driving season.
But, she added, “We might be seeing a greater decrease than we would because of the economic uncertainty.”
Economic troubles in Europe and fears of a double-dip recession at home are looming over oil markets and consumers, squelching demand and dropping prices.
“There are expectations that the economy is not going to be as strong or robust as anticipated,” said Fred Rozell, retail director for the Oil Price Information Service. “An economy that is using less petroleum products, that drives the price down.”
Market watchers said gas prices are likely to continue shadowing oil’s downward trend, but Thanksgiving and Christmas could bring small upticks at the pump. Though cheaper gas helps drivers wallets, it’s unlikely to provide a big boost for the economy , Rozell said.
“I’m not sure it’s going to help enough,” he said.
The price of gas “dropped about 50 cents since it peaked this year, but you are still paying 80 cents more than you did a year ago, so its still a pretty big jump.”
So what — if anything — are you doing differently?
Are you paying less for gasoline? If so, what are doing with the “savings?” Spending it on bills or other items? Banking it? Are you driving more?
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| Houston Gas Prices provided by GasBuddy.com |
But the price of Diesel remains sky-high!
The Bastiches continue to screw the public with an overpriced product that is basically a waste product that became more expensive due to Govt. regulations requiring BS unnecessary additives.
I see the change, I drive the same car my tank is the same size but I am spending the same amount in gas..$50…
A 10% drop in crude oil recently, but only a 2% drop in gasoline. Expect more record Petroleum CO. profits again.
It’s strange WTI is selling at a discount, due to claimed transportation of it issues, they say there’s not enough demand for pipelines for it, yet small natural gas production pipelines, with a likely smaller long term profit margins, are being built galore.
Mind you, gas prices are dropping due to decreased demand as we head into yet another recession.
But hey, thanks for the cheaper gas, President Obama. Right?
Crude at $80 should put gasoline at $2.50 – $2.75. But the oil companies are now saying that the relationship between gasoline and crude isn’t as simple as it was a couple of years ago. More factors are now at play. Chiefly among them is GREED.
Can someone explain to me why Midland is paying some of the highest prices for gas? 3 stations have dropped their gas to 3.39 while the rest remain at 3.43
Michelle Bachmann is having an effect already!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
now what if someone invented a free energy system that worked… would this person be alive to see the next day if those in high places seen it as a threat to their way of living ?
Once oil goes to the refiney, the Exxon’s of the world couldn’t care less. They don’t own refineries anymore and the gas station isn’t tied to the oil companies either. Even with new refineries, they have to make money as well.
evry little bit helps…hopefully it can get to 2.50 before the holidays
Under $3/gal other day when in St. Louis, MO.
established.facts said “free energy”. LOL. Nothing’s free.
Sandysfarm said:
“Can someone explain to me why Midland is paying some of the highest prices for gas? …”
It could be supply chain issues. Even though they are very close to a LOT of oil, they are not right next to a lot of refineries. There’s a refinery in Big Spring and that’s about it.
http://205.254.135.24/state/state-energy-profiles.cfm?sid=TX
Plus, they had a set number of gas stations when oil was at a lower price, and therefore unemployment there is higher. Unemployment in Midland right now is 3% and it’s sometimes hard to find a hotel room. Business is booming there and they’re using a lot of gasoline. If they didn’t build gas stations quickly enough, it’s possible this drives up the cost of gasoline there.
Come on Chron… report the AP story that Prry is about to grant tax refunds of $135 million to refineries… the same money that would have kept many, many teachers employed and schools open. It’s already out there… the AP picked it up from Pasadena. Tell ‘em!! Tell everyone how Perry is siding with oil over education. It’s ok… those of us that read already know about it.
Sorry, should have said “Plus, they had a set number of gas stations when oil was at a lower price, and therefore when unemployment there was higher.”
Shell
1910 NASA Pkwy
Cross:
Upper Bay Rd
Nassau Bay, TX, 77058
$3.59 a gallon for regular. The next station down the street is $3.19. What’s wrong with this picture?
It was down to $2.64 Gllon in Bridge City last week. I guess Michelle Bachman can into town.
SarahATP
You mean this story, that’s been up since 6:59 a.m.?
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/09/26/texas-refineries-may-get-back-135m/
Yeah!! That one Tom!!! Put it as a headline on the Chron.com!!!
I mean seriously… don’t bury it where there’s not even a hyperlink on the home page!!
SarahATP
I believe it was a link on Chron.com earlier in the day, because our posts usally don’t get more than 1,000 recorded readers unless they are tied to the main chron.com page. THey change the items that are linked to chron.com constantly throughout the day. Sometimes things stay up all day, but I’m not a decision-maker on that front.
So basically, the fact that gas is $0.11 cheaper, is much more significant news for the Houston Chronicle, than the fact that the $135 million Perry will end up giving to Vallero etc, instead of tagging it for teachers and keeping schools open. Just what I thought. That’s OK… the national media will be all over it.
More factors are now at play. Chiefly among them is GREED.
———————————–
Greed is a new factor?
Too bad premium is still $3.50+
BTW Tom… thanks for actually paying attention to what people are saying and responding to them. You and the fuelFix gang have done this in the past, and you don’t favor posts based on whether they are pro or con the Oil Companies when you moderate. If only the rest of the Chron was handled this way… but I’ll take a level field when I can get one!
SATP
Agreed. I salute Tom Fowler for responding personally to our questions and comments. It’s nice to know someone is actually listening.
MrOldMan and Sarah
Thank you.
That Shell station on NASA Parkway has always been ridiculously overpriced!!
eiioi
September 26, 2011, 3:59 PM
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Thank you for the answer. Yes, we are booming and very hard to even find a place to live, they can’t build fast enough. Funny thing the surrounding towns, like Andrews which is much smaller, has cheaper gas..guess they figured everyone is making big bucks working in the oil fields : )
The driving season? You mean that excuse (just one of many) they use to gouge us every summer? Personally, I don’t know anyone that drives more miles just because it’s summer. Vacations are now prohibitively expensive in my social circle, not only because of the cost of gasoline but the cost of everything keeps going up.
Think you are getting a bargin at The Quick Stop Food Store gas pump?
If you plan on keeping your car for awhile you might think twice about
what that “cheap” gasoline is doing to your car.
I’ve even been told by someone whos father worked for a major oil refiner that ponying up the extra pennies for the super grade
is much better for your car than regular. Do the math, it is not that much more.