Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[ABC: Thousands of rejected/condemned gas pumps in use, could cost you $$$]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/abc-thousands-of-rejected-condemned-gas-pumps-in-use-could-cos/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/abc-thousands-of-rejected-condemned-gas-pumps-in-use-could-cos/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/abc-thousands-of-rejected-condemned-gas-pumps-in-use-could-cos/#commentsFiled under: ,

gas pump measurement

Most of us likely assume that the gas pump that is providing petrol is giving you the fuel that you pay for - no more or less. While that may be true in most cases, ABC News in Baltimore, Maryland proves that sometimes pumps do bad things to good people.

The report details Maryland state gas station inspections that have revealed over 4,000 defective pumps over the last four years. In all, that's between five and six percent of the 40,000 gas pumps in Maryland, or way too many error-prone pumps for our tastes.

While our primary concern is that customers aren't getting what they pay for, it seems the gas station owners are more likely to get the short end of the stick. The report claims that station owners are three times more likely to lose money than the customer. Scroll down to watch the ABC News report.

Continue reading ABC: Thousands of rejected/condemned gas pumps in use, could cost you $$$

ABC: Thousands of rejected/condemned gas pumps in use, could cost you $$$ originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 May 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abc newsgasgas pricesmarylandpumpvideoTue, 22 May 2012 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20241247/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/22/abc-thousands-of-rejected-condemned-gas-pumps-in-use-could-cos/20241247/article-detail.xml 20241247 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-measure_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-measure.jpg <![CDATA[Analyst suggests gas prices may have peaked at $3.92/gal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/analysts-suggest-gas-prices-may-have-peaked-at-3-92-gal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/analysts-suggest-gas-prices-may-have-peaked-at-3-92-gal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/analysts-suggest-gas-prices-may-have-peaked-at-3-92-gal/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mobil gas prices signage

High gas prices burning through your checking account faster than a Bugatti Veyron through premium? At least one analyst says the pressure might drop soon. Patrick DeHaan, senior analyst for gasbuddy.com thinks fuel prices have peaked for the year, with the national average sitting at $3.92 for the last week. According to USA Today, DeHaan expects average national gas price to fall to $3.70 before May.

If you're the type to send Thank You cards, keep in mind all those Toyota Prius owners who have sacrificed driving pleasure for greater fuel economy, and the leadership in Iran who have kept things kind of quiet over there for a few days. Depending on your political bent, you can also thank either the Democrats and/or Republicans for fostering a slow economy. All those elements contributed to lower oil prices and, in turn, lower gas prices. In contrast, the Federal Energy Administration is still predicting a $4.01/gal peak next month.

Either way, don't rush out and buy that gas-guzzling supercar just yet. Any number of factors could send fuel prices flaring. Meanwhile, enjoy your cheap, $3.92/gal regular while it lasts.

Analyst suggests gas prices may have peaked at $3.92/gal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuelfuel pricesgas pricesgasbuddy.commpgpain at the pumppatrick dehaanWed, 11 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20213119/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/11/analysts-suggest-gas-prices-may-have-peaked-at-3-92-gal/20213119/article-detail.xml 20213119 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/mobil-gas-chicago-price-4-6-12opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/mobil-gas-chicago-price-4-6-12opt.jpg <![CDATA[Shell struggles to pay $1B oil bill to Iran due to sanctions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/shell-struggles-to-pay-1b-oil-bill-to-iraq-due-to-sanctions/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/shell-struggles-to-pay-1b-oil-bill-to-iraq-due-to-sanctions/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/shell-struggles-to-pay-1b-oil-bill-to-iraq-due-to-sanctions/#commentsFiled under: ,

Shell oil

With the price of a barrel of oil beyond $100 per drum, global oil powerhouse Royal Dutch Shell is raking in some serious coin. But while Shell is bringing in the big bucks, it still cannot pay one very important client.

Bloomberg is citing four sources who claim that Shell is finding it difficult to pay Iran about $1 billion due to financial sanctions put in place by the United States and Europe. The bill is reportedly the result of about eight million barrels of oil. On January 23, the European Union placed the ban on oil from Iran, but gave companies until July to wind down business with the world's second-largest producer of oil.

Shell is in a tough spot because it is stuck between obeying sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to scrap its nuclear program and paying the National Iranian Oil Co, which supplies about 100,000 barrels of crude daily. But while Shell is at risk of angering Tehran, other oil companies stopped getting oil from Iran months ago.

It doesn't appear that it will be easy for Shell to pay its bill, but there may be a way. Bloomberg reports that the oil giant could approach the British government to help settle the debt.

Shell struggles to pay $1B oil bill to Iran due to sanctions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gas pricesiraniran sanctionsnuclear programoilroyal dutch shellsanctionsshelltehranTue, 27 Mar 2012 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20200643/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/27/shell-struggles-to-pay-1b-oil-bill-to-iraq-due-to-sanctions/20200643/article-detail.xml 20200643 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/shell-oil_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/shell-oil.jpg <![CDATA[Pentagon report says U.S. pays $400/gal for gas in Afghanistan [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/06/pentagon-report-says-u-s-pays-400-gal-for-gas-in-afghanistan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/06/pentagon-report-says-u-s-pays-400-gal-for-gas-in-afghanistan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/06/pentagon-report-says-u-s-pays-400-gal-for-gas-in-afghanistan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

fuel airdrop in afghanistan

Fed up with the price of gas? We feel your pain. Depending on what state you live in, gas is likely to be found for somewhere between three and four dollars per gallon - and make no mistake, that figure is enough to amount to a sizable chunk of the average American's monthly paycheck.

A new Pentagon report obtained by The Wall Street Journal suggests that American motorists should consider themselves lucky to have such affordable fuel: U.S. military operations stationed in Afghanistan are paying a lot more than that... up to $400 per gallon of fuel delivered to troops on the ground - 100 times what we are asked to shell out. Yikes.

The astronomical cost of fuel is due in part to how it must be delivered: by parachute. Huge military cargo planes operated by the Air Force fly to a remote drop zone and send dozens of pallets to the ground, containing items like food, water and, of course, fuel.

There's more bad news. Due to the dangers of setting up ground-based supply convoys, the military fully expects that air-drops will be increasingly necessary in the coming months and years. And that means our military's fuel bill is only going to get more and more expensive.

Check out a couple of video reports explaining the issue after the break.

Continue reading Pentagon report says U.S. pays $400/gal for gas in Afghanistan [w/video]

Pentagon report says U.S. pays $400/gal for gas in Afghanistan [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afghanistanafghanistan fuelafghanistan suppliesair dropairdropcost of fuelfuel costgas pricesmilitarymilitary fuel costmilitary suppliesTue, 06 Dec 2011 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20121908/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/06/pentagon-report-says-u-s-pays-400-gal-for-gas-in-afghanistan/20121908/article-detail.xml 20121908 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/military-airdrop_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/military-airdrop.jpg <![CDATA[ABC News says gas prices might affect holiday spending]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/abc-news-says-gas-prices-might-affect-holiday-spending/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/abc-news-says-gas-prices-might-affect-holiday-spending/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/abc-news-says-gas-prices-might-affect-holiday-spending/#commentsFiled under:

gas price graphic

Americans everywhere are feeling the pinch of high unemployment and a stagnant economy. Even the gainfully employed are having a tough go of things, as wages aren't keeping up with inflation.

ABC News took a look at holiday spending, showing how much the price of a turkey dinner has changed in only one year. The big dinner is expected to cost 13 percent more than it did a year ago, and the big bird will cost about $4 more than last year. Those costs are expected to rise in line with the hike in raw materials, but gas prices are to blame as well.

Follow the jump to watch the ABC News video. Gas prices are up on average 53 cents more per gallon than last year, and some experts claim a gallon of petrol could hit $4 per gallon in time for Valentine's Day. We can hardly wait.

Continue reading ABC News says gas prices might affect holiday spending

ABC News says gas prices might affect holiday spending originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abc newsgas pricesholidaysthanksgivingturkeyvideoTue, 15 Nov 2011 10:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20105654/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/15/abc-news-says-gas-prices-might-affect-holiday-spending/20105654/article-detail.xml 20105654 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/gas-prices-graphic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/gas-prices-graphic.jpg <![CDATA[Maine gas stations ignoring penalties, shorting customers fuel to make more money]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/maine-gas-stations-ignoring-penalties-shorting-customers-fuel-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/maine-gas-stations-ignoring-penalties-shorting-customers-fuel-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/maine-gas-stations-ignoring-penalties-shorting-customers-fuel-t/#commentsFiled under: ,

Maine gas pump

Think you're paying too much at the pump? Perhaps you are - but not as much as those gassing up in Maine. No, the Pine Tree State doesn't have the highest gas prices in the land (that would still be Hawaii), but it does have a problem with out-of-spec gas pumps. According to state inspection officials, several stations have been found with multiple pumps delivering less fuel than customers are paying for, some of them so inaccurate that the agriculture department has had to order them immediately shut down.

Worse yet, the state lacks the resources to determine whether gas stations owners are purposefully shorting customers or these problems are just random occurrences. While officials say one out-of-spec pump that's not delivering enough fuel might be balanced by one that's flowing more freely than it should, recent inspections have discovered pumps operating up to seven times outside the allowable margin of error. Yet the state can't readily analyze the data it collects during inspections because of outdated computer systems - and a staff of only nine inspectors.

Maine politicians are understandably upset about the issue, but in these times of widespread deficits and budget slashing, it remains to be seen whether they will do anything about it. Of course, Maine is probably not unique in having an overworked weights and measures staff, so we wonder whether we might notice this issue popping up in other places around the country?

Maine gas stations ignoring penalties, shorting customers fuel to make more money originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gasgas pricesmainescamTue, 04 Oct 2011 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20072712/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/04/maine-gas-stations-ignoring-penalties-shorting-customers-fuel-t/20072712/article-detail.xml 20072712 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/maine-gas-pump_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/maine-gas-pump.jpg <![CDATA[Americans driving less, log fewest miles since 2004]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/26/americans-driving-less-log-fewest-miles-since-2004/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/26/americans-driving-less-log-fewest-miles-since-2004/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/26/americans-driving-less-log-fewest-miles-since-2004/#commentsFiled under: ,

highway supertanker

The price of a gallon of gasoline has been a major downer so far in 2011, and data shows that it may be affecting driving habits. According to The Detroit News, the Federal Highway Administration claims that Americans drove 1.453 trillion miles in the first half of 2011. That's down 1.1 percent compared to the first six months of 2010, or an eye-popping 15.5 billion fewer miles compared to the first half of last year. In fact, the government report shows that total miles are down to the lowest level since 2004.

Traffic was down on both rural and urban roads during that time span, though the greater drop occurred outside our nation's cities. Rural roads dropped by 1.7 percent, while urban roads declined by only one percent.

There is no telling if economic woes and pricey petrol will continue to keep Americans out of their vehicles in the second half of 2011, but it's a solid bet that we'll fall short of the 3 trillion miles traveled in 2010.

Americans driving less, log fewest miles since 2004 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyfederal highway administrationfuelgas pricesmiles traveledFri, 26 Aug 2011 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20026130/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/26/americans-driving-less-log-fewest-miles-since-2004/20026130/article-detail.xml 20026130 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/traffic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/traffic.jpg <![CDATA[Presidential candidate Bachmann promises gas under $2.00/gallon if elected]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/17/presidential-candidate-bachmann-promises-gas-under-2-00-gallon/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/17/presidential-candidate-bachmann-promises-gas-under-2-00-gallon/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/17/presidential-candidate-bachmann-promises-gas-under-2-00-gallon/#commentsFiled under:



How's this for bold? Congresswoman Michell Bachmann, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination who won the Ames Straw Poll last weekend, has just stated that one thing we'd get with a Bachmann Administration is - ready? - cheap gasoline. According to Politico she said:

The day that the president became president, gasoline was $1.79 a gallon. Look at what it is today. Under President Bachmann, you will see gasoline come down below $2 a gallon again. That will happen.

Today, said the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.58 per gallon, says the American Automobile Association.

The devil, of course, is in the details, and Bachmann did not explain how she would get the price of fuel down. She's a supporter of drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but doesn't seem to actually understand how much oil experts think is there. Then there's the fact that opening up ANWR wouldn't reduce prices as the pump quite that quickly (if at all). In 2008, the Energy Information Administration said (PDF):

Additional oil production resulting from the opening of ANWR would be only a small portion of total world oil production, and would likely be offset in part by somewhat lower production outside the United States. The opening of ANWR is projected to have its largest oil price reduction impacts as follows: a reduction in low-sulfur, light crude oil prices of $0.41 per barrel (2006 dollars) in 2026 for the low oil resource case, $0.75 per barrel in 2025 for the mean oil resource case, and $1.44 per barrel in 2027 for the high oil resource case, relative to the reference case.

Oh, and then there's this. Still, a return to $2.00/gallon probably sounds good to some voters, right?

Regardless of where you sit on this issue, you can check out Bachmann delivering her gas price pledge in a brief video after the jump.

Continue reading Presidential candidate Bachmann promises gas under $2.00/gallon if elected

Presidential candidate Bachmann promises gas under $2.00/gallon if elected originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ames straw pollanwrarctic national wildlife refugebachmanngallon of gasgas pricesmichelle bachmannoil pricespresidential candidateWed, 17 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20020373/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/17/presidential-candidate-bachmann-promises-gas-under-2-00-gallon/20020373/article-detail.xml 20020373 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/michelle-bachmann-630p_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/michelle-bachmann-630p.jpg <![CDATA[Are gas prices changing home buying habits?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/are-gas-prices-changing-home-buying-habits/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/are-gas-prices-changing-home-buying-habits/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/are-gas-prices-changing-home-buying-habits/#commentsFiled under: ,

gas station

Rising gas prices have an affect over many aspects of our lives. Besides increasing the cost of operating automobiles, more expensive fuel leads to an increase in the cost of shipped goods, food and airline tickets. Can gas prices also create changing attitudes amongst home shoppers?

Coldwell Bankers Real Estate recently conducted a survey of real estate professionals, and it found that 75 percent reported clients reevaluating where they search for homes. Home shoppers are looking to reduce commuting distance in order to reduce fuel consumption. The survey found that 77 percent of real estate professionals saw an increase in the number of folks looking for home offices and 68 percent of that pool believe the surge is attributable to rising fuel costs.

The folks at Nielsen have a different take on the matter, however, and believe U.S. consumers have adjusted to a new "spending reality." Folks are adjusting their spending habits to conserve where possible, but Nielsen doesn't believe it's on the level of the 2008 economic freakout.

So now we're going to turn to you, dear Autoblog reader. If you're in the market for a house, have rising gas prices shaped your search in any way? Sound off in Comments.

Are gas prices changing home buying habits? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel costsfuel pricesgasgas pricesgas prices home buyinghome buyingnielsenreal estaterealtorWed, 25 May 2011 18:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19947625/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/25/are-gas-prices-changing-home-buying-habits/19947625/article-detail.xml 19947625 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/abandoned-gas-station_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/abandoned-gas-station.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Reuters</i>: Gasoline prices begin falling, may be past 2011 peak]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/18/gasoline-prices-begin-falling-may-be-past-2011-peak/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/18/gasoline-prices-begin-falling-may-be-past-2011-peak/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/18/gasoline-prices-begin-falling-may-be-past-2011-peak/#commentsFiled under:

gas prices chart

The price of a gallon of crude may have dropped by $16 in the past month, but for the most part, gas prices haven't followed suit. In fact, the nationwide average hit $4 per gallon just last week, or $1.10 higher than it was at this time in 2010.

But while relief at the pump feels far from fruition, Reuters reports that the worst may be behind us. Gas prices have dropped to a national average of $3.96, the first decrease in eight weeks. Diesel fuel is cheaper as well, down 4.3 cents to $4.03 per gallon.

Phil Flynn of PFGBest Research in Chicago reportedly told Reuters, "I think we've turned the corner and we should expect to see substantial price drops in the coming weeks." Flynn adds that we should see a national price of $3.50 per gallon at some point in the summer. Guy Caruso of the Center for Strategic and International Studies goes a step further, speculating that we may have already seen the peak gas price for 2011.

It's hard to believe that we're looking forward to $3.50 per gallon gasoline, but even a cut of 50 cents per gallon can be a big relief on the family budget. If, for example, you drive 15,000 miles per year and your vehicle averages 25 miles per gallon in mixed driving, a per-gallon drop of 50 cents could result in another $300 in your pocket at the end of the year.

It's still early, but we're thinking that the downward trend of oil prices means that relief at the pump is relatively close. Of course, we're not likely to pay $2.50 per gallon again anytime soon, but we'll take whatever we can get.

Reuters: Gasoline prices begin falling, may be past 2011 peak originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuelgas pricesreutersWed, 18 May 2011 13:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19942904/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/18/gasoline-prices-begin-falling-may-be-past-2011-peak/19942904/article-detail.xml 19942904 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/national-gas-prices_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/national-gas-prices.jpg <![CDATA[Computer glitch causes gas station to sell 8,000 gallons at $1.10]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/computer-glitch-causes-gas-station-to-sell-8-000-gallons-at-1-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/computer-glitch-causes-gas-station-to-sell-8-000-gallons-at-1-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/computer-glitch-causes-gas-station-to-sell-8-000-gallons-at-1-1/#commentsBSOD

When residents of Wilmington - a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California - got word that a local Valero fueling station was selling gas for the bargain price of $1.10 per gallon, almost immediately, vehicles lined up 'round the corner. This wasn't one of those promo deals on fuel, though. It was a computer glitch that lead to the station dispensing some 8,000 gallons of gas at just $1.10 each.

According to KCAL 9, it took hours for the on-duty gas station attendant to notice the glitch (didn't the line-up of cars give it away?). In the meantime, police arrived on the scene to direct traffic around the overcrowded station.

When station owner Kenny Nguyen got wind of his unintended act of kindness, he immediately shut down all of the pumps. All told, Nguyen estimates that he lost nearly $21,000 due to the glitch. Ouch.

Computer glitch causes gas station to sell 8,000 gallons at $1.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap gasgasgas pricesgasolinepump pricesvaleroTue, 17 May 2011 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19942581/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/computer-glitch-causes-gas-station-to-sell-8-000-gallons-at-1-1/19942581/article-detail.xml 19942581 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/2228633614f24352ca3co_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/2228633614f24352ca3co.jpg <![CDATA[It's Official: National average gas price hits $4]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/its-official-national-average-gas-price-hits-4/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/its-official-national-average-gas-price-hits-4/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/13/its-official-national-average-gas-price-hits-4/#commentsFiled under:

Woman pumping gas

The national average price of gasoline has hit exactly $4 a gallon, approximately a dime below its all-time high. According to a Lundberg Survey of fueling stations released on Sunday, pump prices rose 12 cents over the past two weeks. On July 7, 2008, the national average price of gas soared to $4.114 a gallon, a record-setting high, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy.

If you're hunting for bargain gas, and willing to drive to get it, then Tucson, AZ offers you the lowest average price among cities surveyed at just $3.62 a gallon. Meanwhile, drivers in Chicago suffered the most, having to dish out an average of $4.50 for a single gallon of the go-juice.

The U.S. Department of Energy will release its weekly survey of diesel and gasoline prices on Monday afternoon. Who's willing to bet that prices will have come down by then?

It's Official: National average gas price hits $4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>44 gas4.00 gasgasgas pricesgasoline priceslundberg studypump pricesU.S. department of transportationusdotFri, 13 May 2011 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19938727/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/13/its-official-national-average-gas-price-hits-4/19938727/article-detail.xml 19938727 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/woman-pumping-gas_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/woman-pumping-gas.jpg <![CDATA[Price of oil plummets below $100, gas may fall to $3.50/gallon by June]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/06/price-of-oil-plummets-below-100-gas-may-fall-to-3-50-gallon-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/06/price-of-oil-plummets-below-100-gas-may-fall-to-3-50-gallon-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/06/price-of-oil-plummets-below-100-gas-may-fall-to-3-50-gallon-b/#commentsFiled under:

Fuel prices

The United States economy has been on the up-swing over the past year and a half, but recent data shows that economic growth is slowing and unemployment is once again creeping upward. That certainly isn't good news, but but those factors are starting to take their toll on the fuel prices... for the better.

The price of a barrel of oil dropped by $9.44 on Thursday alone, lowering the price below $100 per barrel for the first time in two months. According to the Associated Press, the per-barrel price reportedly dropped further to $97/barrel early Friday, and the trend may not reverse itself any time soon.

Some analysts feel that we may see some relief at the fuel pump, with prices dropping to an average of $3.75 per gallon by Memorial Day, and $3.50 by mid-summer. Currently, the price of a gallon of petrol rests at about $4.00 per gallon nation-wide, though many areas are paying much more.

That's great news for commuters, but the New York Times Green blog points out that the precipitous price drop was less of a trend and more of a market correction. Demand for oil in India and China, the two countries with the highest population by far, continues to grow at a substantial rate. That means any substantial drop in demand over the long term is unlikely. At any rate, the price of a gallon of gas should drop a bit in the near future, and at this point, we'll take what we can get.

Price of oil plummets below $100, gas may fall to $3.50/gallon by June originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuelfuel pricesgas pricesFri, 06 May 2011 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19933677/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/06/price-of-oil-plummets-below-100-gas-may-fall-to-3-50-gallon-b/19933677/article-detail.xml 19933677 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/oilprices.efef5dd3a424452ab3c7b058f1d9f8c8_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/oilprices.efef5dd3a424452ab3c7b058f1d9f8c8.jpg <![CDATA[V6 offerings make up 50% of retail Ford F-150 sales in April]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/v6-offerings-make-up-50-of-retail-ford-f-150-sales-in-april/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/v6-offerings-make-up-50-of-retail-ford-f-150-sales-in-april/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/v6-offerings-make-up-50-of-retail-ford-f-150-sales-in-april/#commentsFiled under: ,

ford f-150 ecoboost
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford sold 45,435 F-150s in April, up 11 percent versus the top-selling truck's April 2010 totals. That's a solid month for truck sales with soaring fuel prices, but the finer sales details show that truck buyers are very mindful of prices at the pump.

Ford announced in its monthly sales totals release that V6-equipped F-150s accounted for 50 percent of retail sales, up considerably from the 40 percent mix in March. The 3.7-liter V6 offers truck buyers 305 horsepower and 23 miles per gallon on the highway, so it's not surprising that some owners are opting for the smaller mill.

But the more popular V6 offering is the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which boasts 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Ford says 75 percent of those V6 sales are of the EcoBoost variety, which makes sense, given the fact that the boosted mill accounted for 36 percent of all F-150 sales in April. The EcoBoost F-150 gets up to 22 mpg on the highway, which is still as good as or better than the other pickup trucks on the market.


Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150: First Drive

2011 Ford F-1502011 Ford F-1502011 Ford F-1502011 Ford F-1502011 Ford F-150

V6 offerings make up 50% of retail Ford F-150 sales in April originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april 2011 f-150 salesf-150 salesf-series salesfordgas pricestruck salesv50 percent of f-150 salesTue, 03 May 2011 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19930650/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/03/v6-offerings-make-up-50-of-retail-ford-f-150-sales-in-april/19930650/article-detail.xml 19930650 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/lead1f150fd2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/lead1f150fd2011.jpg <![CDATA[Infographic: Gas is still cheap]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/graphic-gas-is-still-cheap/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/graphic-gas-is-still-cheap/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/graphic-gas-is-still-cheap/#commentsFiled under:

Gas prices compared to other common items
See? Gas really is cheaper than you think... Click above to enlarge

Nationwide, motorists are shelling out an average of $3.55 per gallon of petrol. That's a lot more cash than you were paying last year at this time, but - stop us if you've heard this one before - an interesting graphic from Good shows that gas is a real bargain compared to other liquids we consume every day.

For example, a gallon of freshly brewed coffee from Starbucks will set you back $32. Move up from coffee to Guinness and you're looking at doubling your tally to $64 for every 128 ounces consumed. We know you won't be shocked that Dom Perignon is $755 per gallon, but did you know that nail polish is $1,015 for the same portion size? If you want a consumable with comparable per-gallon pricing, you'll have to pick up some Coca-Cola, which retails for $3.84 per gallon.

Okay, so you probably don't feel any better about gas prices (we sure don't), but you click on the image above to see how other items you use every day compare to the price of a gallon of gas.

[Source: Good via Kicking Tires]

Continue reading Infographic: Gas is still cheap

Infographic: Gas is still cheap originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gasgas 3.55 per gallongas infographicgas per gallongas pricesgas prices per gallongood graphicgood graphic consumable prices versus gasolineFri, 25 Mar 2011 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19890968/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/25/graphic-gas-is-still-cheap/19890968/article-detail.xml 19890968 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/fluids-by-the-gallon-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/fluids-by-the-gallon-opt.jpg <![CDATA[AP looks into what factors determine gas prices]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/ap-looks-into-what-factors-determine-gas-prices/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/ap-looks-into-what-factors-determine-gas-prices/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/ap-looks-into-what-factors-determine-gas-prices/#commentsFiled under: ,

High Gas Prices

With summer just a few precious months away, most Americans are already bracing for some of the steepest fuel prices in years. According to the Associated Press, unrest in places like Libya has seen the average price tag on a gallon of gasoline rocket skyward by 38 cents per gallon, or around 15 percent, since February 15. In fact, the price per a barrel of crude oil has been on a steady trek upward, and in kind, drivers have seen the numbers tick north at their local pumps. So why is it that when the price per barrel drops, as it did earlier this week, gas prices stay high?

The answer, it turns out, is due to a mix of factors. According to the AP, most gas stations set their prices not according to how much it costs them to replace the fuel, but in correlation with their closest competitors in the area. If one station ups their price per gallon, the rest will follow suit and vice-versa. That's because station owners typically only make two or three cents on every gallon of gasoline sold. Instead, they make their money off of the snacks and drinks inside.

Since stations may buy their fuel in long-term contracts to lock in a price for a set period of time, lowering the price per gallon too quickly could cause them to actually lose money on the fuel sold. Head over to Yahoo News for a full breakdown of the factors influencing fuel prices.

[Source: Yahoo News | Image: Paul Sakuma/AP]

AP looks into what factors determine gas prices originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crude oilfuel pricesgas pricegas pricesoil pricesFri, 11 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19876817/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/11/ap-looks-into-what-factors-determine-gas-prices/19876817/article-detail.xml 19876817 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/high-gas-prices_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/high-gas-prices.jpg <![CDATA[Wikileaks: U.S. believes Saudi Arabia is running out of oil]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/wikileaks-u-s-believes-saudi-arabia-is-running-out-of-oil/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/wikileaks-u-s-believes-saudi-arabia-is-running-out-of-oil/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/wikileaks-u-s-believes-saudi-arabia-is-running-out-of-oil/#commentsSaudi oil field

Peak oil, according to Wikipedia, is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. Opinions vary on when the world will actually reach a peak oil scenario, but a new report detailed by Julian Assange's infamous Wikileaks website indicates the United States believes it's staring us right in the face - as early as 2012.

Maybe that's what the Mayan calendar is on about?

It may not exactly be the end of the world as we know it, but if the report is accurate, it could mean death to a number of popular vehicular segments; namely the gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle, heavy-duty pickup truck and possible even the mainstream performance car. Electric and hybrid Mustang and Camaro models might not look so bad in the very near future, eh?

This revalatory report centers around a meeting between Sadad al-Husseini, a geologist and former head of exploration at Aramco (the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia), and U.S. officials. Husseini, an expert on the subject, suggested that Saudi Arabia doesn't have as much oil left as the country wants us to believe and that it is unlikely to continue producing its current rate of 12.5 million barrels per day.

None of this is to say that the world has run out of oil - far from it, in fact - but it does mean that Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East and the country that's thought by experts to hold about one-fifth of the world's proven total petroleum reserves, won't be able to provide enough oil to keep the world operating as it does today.

If nothing else, this report gives us reason to believe that oil prices won't stay nearly as low as they currently are, and that large-scale price increases could happen sooner rather than later. Thanks for the tip, Glenton!

[Source: Yahoo News | Image: Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty]

Wikileaks: U.S. believes Saudi Arabia is running out of oil originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aramcogas pricesoiloil pricesoil reservespeak oilpetroleum reservessadad al-husseinisaudi arabiawikileaksWed, 09 Feb 2011 15:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19837173/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/09/wikileaks-u-s-believes-saudi-arabia-is-running-out-of-oil/19837173/article-detail.xml 19837173 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/saudi-oil-field_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/saudi-oil-field.jpg <![CDATA[DOE: Oil will average $99/barrel by end of 2012; gas $3.29 per gallon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/01/doe-oil-will-average-99-barrel-by-end-2012-gas-329-per-gallon/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/01/doe-oil-will-average-99-barrel-by-end-2012-gas-329-per-gallon/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/01/doe-oil-will-average-99-barrel-by-end-2012-gas-329-per-gallon/#commentsFiled under:

Gas price sign shows pricing at an arm and a legAccording to the DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA), crude oil prices are expected to steadily increase over the next two years, hitting $99 per barrel by the end of 2012. Tightening of world oil markets, along with a growth in consumption, will continue to drive oil prices up from the recorded average of $89 a barrel in December 2010 to an estimated $93 per barrel for 2011.

Higher crude oil prices directly translate into increases at the pump. The EIA projects that regular-grade gasoline will climb from the documented average of $2.78 per gallon in 2010 to $3.17 in 2011 and hit $3.29 per gallon by the end of 2012. Likewise, the cost of diesel fuel is estimated to soar from the recorded $2.99 per gallon in 2010 to $3.52 in 2012. Adding to the pain at the pump, the EIA predicts that there's at least a seven percent chance that the retail price of gasoline could, once again, exceed the $4 mark at some point this July.

[Source: U.S. Department of Energy | Image: Kari_Marie - C.C. License 2.0]

Continue reading DOE: Oil will average $99/barrel by end of 2012; gas $3.29 per gallon

DOE: Oil will average $99/barrel by end of 2012; gas $3.29 per gallon originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012crudedieseleiagas pricesgasolineoiloil barreloil pricesus department of energyTue, 01 Feb 2011 10:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19823528/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/01/doe-oil-will-average-99-barrel-by-end-2012-gas-329-per-gallon/19823528/article-detail.xml 19823528 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/gas-arm-leg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/gas-arm-leg.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Facing high gas prices, dealers get cautious with big SUVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/high-gas-prices-car-dealers-big-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/high-gas-prices-car-dealers-big-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/high-gas-prices-car-dealers-big-suvs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SUV parking lot

The average gas price in the U.S. is over $3 right now, and there's a good chance it'll go higher before too long. What do you do in this situation if you're a car dealer with a lot full of SUVs and big crossovers? You start being cautious.

That's the takeaway point from an Automotive News article, with the key quote coming from a New York Ford dealer, who told the industry publication:
SUVs are still important in this area, but people are downsizing to more fuel efficient SUVs instead. We are still stocking with the idea that it may go either way. Hoping for the best, but prepared for anything.
For the moment, gas prices aren't high enough to make people panic and try to offload their gas hogs the way we saw in 2008, but Kelley Blue Book analyst Alec Gutierrez told Automotive News that SUV sales could drop "dramatically" once gas reaches $3.50 or $4 a gallon, saying, "The days where a dealer could just go to auction and stock up on a bunch of SUVs and hold them for 40 or 60 days are over."

The last time gas jumped up to panic levels was in 2008. That's when Joe Crawford took the picture that illustrates this post. In the accompanying Flickr caption, he writes:
So a local (Culver City) car dealer started storing cars on the top of our parking garage. I always park on the roof, so anytime I am up there I see the cars. I have taken to think of these cars as an economic indicator. They all seem to be SUV vehicles. I wonder about why they are up there, and why there seems to be more every week. I suspect the fact that they're stored here has something to do with the price of gas.
We suspect he's right, and we can't imagine there are dealers out there who want to have to go through a process like that again.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: Joe Crawford - C.C. 2.0]

Report: Facing high gas prices, dealers get cautious with big SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto salescar salesgas pricesgas prices suvsuv salesThu, 30 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19780958/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/30/high-gas-prices-car-dealers-big-suvs/19780958/article-detail.xml 19780958 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/2533523995ec6a90446ez_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/2533523995ec6a90446ez.jpg <![CDATA[Former Shell boss predicts $5/gal gas in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/28/former-shell-boss-predicts-5-gal-gas-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/28/former-shell-boss-predicts-5-gal-gas-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/28/former-shell-boss-predicts-5-gal-gas-in-2012/#commentsFiled under:

Gas price sign shows pricing at an arm and a legWith fuel prices in a temporarily lofty spot thanks to the holidays, it's hard to think of the price of a gallon of gas as a bargain, but according to the former president of Shell Oil, that's exactly what it is compared to what we'll see just one short year from now. While speaking with Platt's Energy Week Television, John Hofmeister said that he fully expects gas prices to be above $5.00 per gallon by the end of 2012. That stance puts Hofmeister firmly in the worst-case scenario club, though other analysts are barely any jollier in their predictions.

Tom Kloza, who serves as the chief oil analyst with Oil Price Information Service, believes that Hofmeister's predictions will come true, just not in the time-frame that the former Shell head honcho has predicted. Instead, Kloza says that he expects $5.00/gallon fuel to show up within the next decade. If so, we can probably expect to see a repeat of the financial shock that occurred when fuel prices shot up in mid-2008. The predictions are enough to make us a little queasy, so you have to really feel for our friends in Blighty - the UK recently saw gas prices spike to $7.30 a gallon. What will their prices be in 2012?

[Source: CNN Money | Image: Kari_Marie via cc 2.0]

Former Shell boss predicts $5/gal gas in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel pricesgas pricesjohn hofmeisteroil priceOil Price Information Serviceplatts energy week televisionshell gasShell Oiltom klozaTue, 28 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19778900/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/28/former-shell-boss-predicts-5-gal-gas-in-2012/19778900/article-detail.xml 19778900 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/gas-arm-leg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/gas-arm-leg.jpg -1 2