Signs of winter coming...

[Tasty]

This is just too convenient to be coincidence. Link I know someone will follow up this post with all the capitalist propaganda that the market will bear such fluctuations, and that things will only sell for what their worth. Isn't it funny though how rates always go up right before consumption is going to increase? Hopefully the rest of the country won't have to suffer similar increases. Energy companies have us by the balls.

[truzoom]

I'm not surprised...it feels like its just getting more expensive to live.

[Scottwax]

Originally Posted by Tasty

Isn't it funny though how rates always go up right before consumption is going to increase?

Simple supply and demand. In addition, when it comes to gas, part of the problem is all the regional blends required and lack of refining capacity. Don't know if that affects the natural gas markets because I don't know if they use the same refining facilities. I also can't say that the natural gas price increase is justified because I don't know the market conditions or any new regulations that may effect the price in the northwest.

Not much we can do when China and India are using more and more gas and oil each year. Maybe if we did more drilling here and built more refineries it would increase supply and bring down prices. Won't get any cooperation from the extreme enviromentalists though.

[zippymbr]

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Simple supply and demand. In addition, when it comes to gas, part of the problem is all the regional blends required and lack of refining capacity. Don't know if that affects the natural gas markets because I don't know if they use the same refining facilities. I also can't say that the natural gas price increase is justified because I don't know the market conditions or any new regulations that may effect the price in the northwest.

Not much we can do when China and India are using more and more gas and oil each year. Maybe if we did more drilling here and built more refineries it would increase supply and bring down prices. Won't get any cooperation from the extreme enviromentalists though.

AMEN! You took the words right out of my mouth! Demand is higher than it has every been. Supply just cann't keep up. So prices rise until they hit a point where demand starts to taper off. The big guess is how high does it need to get before we start to get rid of the HUGE SUV's. I have friends who both drive Expeditions and have only 1 kid! $600 in Gas per month! I am just amazed at how many times a day I see People driving by themselves in these behemoth trucks.

[Scottwax]

Originally Posted by zippymbr

The big guess is how high does it need to get before we start to get rid of the HUGE SUV's. I have friends who both drive Expeditions and have only 1 kid! $600 in Gas per month! I am just amazed at how many times a day I see People driving by themselves in these behemoth trucks.

My brother sold their Expidition and got a Mountaineer. They still needed the towing capacity and the Mountaineer gets about 2-3 mpg better both in town and on the highway.

I've never understood the SUV craze but it does make sense with a large family, people who tow or regularly take several people along with them. 1 Suburban taking 8 people somewhere is better than 3 Civics doing the same-less gas, emission and vehicles clogging the streets and parking lots that way.

If people are willing to pay the cost to drive them though, fine with me.