<img src="https://www.cobaltss.net/articles/pump.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="5">In some parts of the country, retail gasoline already crossed $3 a gallon. While the summer driving season is coming to a close with Labor Day weekend, speculation is rampant over Katrina's impact on refineries in the U.S. Gulf, where crude oil is turned into gasoline and other petroleum products. In the wake of Katrina, which caused eight major refining facilities to shut down, gasoline futures prices soared. Some states were already reporting scarcities in certain grades of fuel, and wholesale prices were on the rise as well.

To avert a severe supply crunch, Petroleum Industry Research Foundation President Lawrence J. Goldstein said the government should relax summer gasoline specifications to free-up motor fuel supplies otherwise being held in storage until Sept. 15. He said the U.S. should also seek help from European nations, who might be willing to lend, exchange or sell gasoline and other fuels.

AAA said retail gasoline prices could soon hit $3 a gallon as bottlenecks in refining result in shortages, particularly in the Gulf region and the Midwest.

"The bottom line is, prices are going to go higher," said Bob Far, senior associate at JHP Associates LLC, an energy advisory firm in Wilton, Conn. "We already have in the Midwest over $3 at the pump."

Wholesale prices in the Gulf were up seven cents this morning to $2.96 a gallon and around $2.67 in the New York region, Mr. Far said. The federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents a gallon, and state taxes range from a low of 7.5 cents in Georgia to 42.6 cents a gallon in New York.

The average price for all three grades rose nearly 13 cents to $2.65 in the two weeks ending Aug. 26, said Trilby Lundberg, who publishes the semimonthly Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations around the country. Those figures likely will rise in the wake of Katrina, as unleaded gasoline futures surged 20% Tuesday and rose again Wednesday to a record $2.54 a gallon.

Across the country, Americans are recounting their personal tales of procuring costly gasoline in online message boards and on television and radio shows: Read full article. Subscription to WSJ required

CNN article: http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/31/news...rices/?cnn=yes

 

a high of 3.69 here in chicago for regular

 

Gas prices were hovering at 96 cents / litre last nite and all of a sudden this morning they surged to 1.21/L (so about $4.58/gallon w/o exchange rate) for regular with more increases expected later this evening. Good thing I filled up my car on Monday when Katrina hit because we all knew this was going to happen again. I can make 3/4 of a tank last for two weeks if I only go to work and back but where's the fun in that . I think I'm going to start putting my car in neutral and pushing it everywhere...good thing I have the leather to rest my legs when I get tired.

Who's ready for the insurance rates hike again to cover the losses the insurance companies are going to suffer !

Permafried-

 

I live in Alabama and we experience some of nature's after affects also. Trees, powerlines, etc.. etc.. falling over in roads in such. We didn't get what the Gulf did, but we got a tornadoe out of it :/.
Gas in North Alabama is at $2.71 at the lowest grade and $3.01 to $3.11 at the highest grade, Diesel being $2.67. But our prices jumped close to $.20 in a couple of hours. I work at a Wal-Mart so I get to catch most of the gas features because of one right in our parking lot :P. It's suppose to get even worse too.

 

I paided $3.79 per gallon for premium It was $2.99 two days before Katrina hit.

 

It was 3.25 for regular here in Griffin, GA. before we ran completely out that is. They are telling us we may be out for as long as 10 days!!!!!

 

i saw 3.19 and 2.89 here today

 

$3.29 here in Canton, Michigan, and I thought everyone was making enough money off our poor sorry asses. Sheesh.

 

with the hurricane and everything, gas prices in georgia i heard were like $5-6 per gallon

 

i think texas is a lil lucky in this aspect... we are sitting at a high of 3.09 for premium... i think we are lucky for the time being since it is so high elsewhere

 

at least 3 for regular in stl. it went from 2.40-3 in a day and a half i filled up at 2.40 over the weekend and should last me another week.

 

I saw 5.67 on the news this morning in Atlanta and almost fell off the couch while eating breakfast, that's absolutely ridiculous !

Permafried-

 

We are at $4.98/gallon in the GTA.

Montreal is around $5.08/gallon.

 

On Long Island they are expecting the prices to go up to $ 4.00 by the weekend

 

WOW in my part of FL some places are sittin at 2.91-2.99 for premium, but it should go up over the weekend.

 

We're still hovering around $1.30/L here today, I'm really considering going tonight and filling up my 1/2 tank that is empty because I've got a bad feeling it's just going to keep going up over the weekend...pretty sad when my 0.20 off / L still brings me above $1.00, maybe I can power the car off moonshine .

Permafried-

 

Yeah, $1.30/L = around $5.00 gallon. I put a little bit of gas in today at 1.34/L for 91 Octane. I bet we will hit $1.45-$1.50 for premium.

I have put 3000 km in two weeks.... thats a lot of money in gas.

 

good thing i drive 18 miles a day tahts it.....or i'd be broke!!!!

 

btw, gas is like......3.099 here in canton/akron for 87

 

$2.03 for 93 oct on Base. I love my Marine Corps.

 

i paid 5.49 a gallon on sunday

but that was for 101 race gas


i paid 3.19 for 91 this morning

 

This morning my mom filled up for 2.99 a gallon for regular, then when I got home from school I filled up for 3.15 a gallon of regular. So in less than 12 hours the price when up .16 The highest I've seen was 3.65 for reg..

 

I think the surge in gas prices is all a big load of sheep dip!!!!!!! I think the gas stations look for any excuse to raise the gas prices and here is another example(using weather as an excuse). The country does have reserves and weather only affected one area. I always wonder why the prices increase on the weekends(particularly on long weekends). Now that they see that people are willing to pay a buck a litre, I don't think we'll ever see below 80 cents/litre ever again. Hat's off to the man!!! You have scammed us all once again. Everybody bend over and grab your ankles on this one......we're all in for one hell of a ride!!!!!!!

 

even here in Wyoming, the price is getting high now.
It just jumped to about $2.89 for the lowest grade today ( was $2.49 just a day or two ago when I last filled up)


damn hurricane Katrina !!

and complaining about the prices changing, is similar to complaining about capitalism and economics.. it's just how the economy works

 

Here in Indy Regular unleaded is $2.99 a gallon today. Last week, after
Katrina hit gas soared to $3.59 a gallon. As you can see prices fell, hopefully
they will continued to fall.