Posted on Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 7:40 a.m.
AAA Michigan: Gas prices up 20.4 cents; highest average in Ann Arbor
By Cindy Heflin
Drivers in Michigan are paying 20.4 cents more for gas this week than last, reports AAA Michigan. The current statewide average is $3.742, 96.9 cents more than last year.
The average for self-serve regular rose 21.7 cents in Metro Detroit over the past week, with the average at $3.77 per gallon, AAA said. The Metro Detroit average is $1.002 cents per gallon higher than last year at this time.
AAA surveys 2,800 Michigan gas stations daily. Visit the auto club's website for more information about gas prices across the country. For information about prices at Ann Arbor-area stations, visit GasBuddy.com.
Comments
KJMClark
Wed, Jul 6, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
The LA Times, citing the Oil Price Information Service, says it's refinery problems in the midwest (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20110706,0,3178928.story.)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20110706,0,3178928.story.)</a> Why are the prices higher here? Have anyone heard of the "free market"? Sellers price their goods at the price the market will bear. If you don't like it, you're free to go buy it somewhere else. If they can't sell at a given price, they'll lower their prices. As long as there are plenty of people willing to pay more here, the prices should be higher here. Cheap gas is *not* guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Tom's right. If you think the prices are high now, wait till next summer.
Buster W.
Wed, Jul 6, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
"Sellers price their goods at the price the market will bear. " Do you honestly think the economy will bear $5 gas next summer (in an election year)?
Stephen Landes
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 6:51 p.m.
If the President really wanted to affect the price of gasoline he would take action to produce more in the US. We have plenty of natural gas and oil available, but too many restrictions on its production. He doesn't even want us to build a pipeline from Canada to bring Canadian oil (remember, our number one trading partner and very good friend) to US refineries. "Drill, baby, drill" is still the fastest way to reduce dependence on overseas oil from undependable sources.
Homeland Conspiracy
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
Big oil loves Drill Baby Drill that way they can sell that oil to China
Hmm
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
Price gouging plain and simple. As one commenter already put it " People will not cancel standing vacation plans for an extra 20 cents a gallon." And they know that and that is why they raise it up that much. $.20 a gallon in one week? Come on people!
Tom Joad
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 3:25 p.m.
Fill em if you've got em because oil prices are slated to go back up to $150. Peak oil...believe it.
Roger Roth
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
1. Be sure to continue voting for reps. who support Big Oil Subsidies. 2. Also, to those who support the "market" value of labor, remember to also support the "market" value of gasoline and other commodities. "You can't have one without the other!" Repeat after me: "I, (insert name) believe in "The Almighty Market." 3. Continuing enjoying your life being subject to "The Almighty Market" and its government enablers and try not to complain too much when things rub you the wrong way. 4. Also, continue cheering for those who support the ever accelerating upward transfer of wealth, like your new governor. 5. The middle class notion of what constitutes the American Dream is not only foreign to those already living their own, enhanced version, but also an American Dream the elite would find unacceptable for themselves to live. John Boehner's "shot at the American Dream" is clearly code for "something considerably UNDER what I live" and clearly, he's got bipartisan support. (Who says our government can't work together?????) But, never mind that, everyone face and bow toward Lansing and Washington, please.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.
I do believe in the "almighty market". The reason for high prices in this case is artificially restricted volume. Those in control of petroleum policy in our country have decided to unilaterally disarm -- to stop looking for petroleum in the best places to find it. That leaves more and more of the global petroleum supply up to the whims of OPEC, Hugo Chavez, and a few others, most of whom do not like us very much or simply want to extract as much money from us as they can.
rs
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
I saw this coming when Obama dumped all that reserve oil on the market right before a Holiday weekend. Everybody knew, including the President and his cabinet, that the prices would shoot up on the 4th. And here it is, 2 weeks after his publicity stunt and gas prices are right back where they were. That whole reserve dump was just Obama pandering to the general public while not rocking the boat too much. If he really wanted to make a statement, he would have waited until after the Holiday its built-in excuse to raise gas prices.
EcoChicMomma
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.
The reason for the price hike du jour is fairly simple. This was a holiday weekend - lots of travel, lots of gas. Call it supply and demand if you want, but the price was increased in anticipation of the increased use. People will not cancel standing vacation plans for an extra 20 cents a gallon. It happens around every holiday weekend. Doesn't explain why the price is higher in Ann Arbor than in surrounding communities though.
Greggy_D
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
Then why did prices go DOWN during Memorial Day weekend?
Michigan Man
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
Obama energy policy not getting it done for the citizens of Ann Arbor!
Rusnak
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.
It's about time someone investigated why gas is higher in Ann Arbor than it is in Ypsilanti, Saline, or Milan... This country sits on some of the biggest oil reserves in the world and some are worried that by drilling we will upset the habitat of a herd of Caribou. The Caribou would welcome us and a pipeline at least that way they can warm their rear end on the pipeline. We still have restrictions on drilling of shore in the Gulf of Mexico but, at the same time funnel money to the Brazilian gov't so they drill. Unreal....
xmo
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Thank Goodness Ann Arbor leads the State in gas prices! Its nice to know that we want to save the Planet and are willing to pay TOP DOLLAR for it! Go BIG GREEN!
grye
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
Price gouging at its finest. When will there be stability at the pump? The per barrel price of oil doesn't fluctuate this much.
johnnya2
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.
How is this price gouging? If you do not want to pay it, you do not have to. They have the price clearly posted BEFORE you pump it. The price per barrel DOES actually fluctuate this much. The 52 week low is $71.32. The 52 week high is $114.18. That would be a 60% difference from lowest to highest. The actual % increase on a barrel off oil is remarkably close to what the % increase is on a gallon of gas where it is presently trading in the $95 range. What commodities have price stability? I think gas should be around $10 per gallon. We would finally develop a sensible energy policy. Unfortunately, there will be no smart thinking on the topic until it is too late. This time next year the conversation will be about $5 per gallon gas
snoopdog
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.
Must be George W. Bush's fault !!!! And why the highest prices of the state in A2 , because they can . The Mobil and BP station on State Street near Briarwood Mall are always 15-20 cents per gallon more than stations in Ypsi, Saline or Milan. Good Day
Buster W.
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
Right on, snoopdog! I continue to be amazed at the folks that purchase gas at the BP and Mobil (and Shell) near Briarwood. They have been notoriously expensive as long as I can remember, which has been 20+ years. I can't believe all of them are out-of-towners and don't know of the other stations just south of I94.
snoopdog
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:54 p.m.
@johnnya2, I drive around 100 miles per day and am out all over SE Michigan so I always know where the "cheapest" gas is. For that matter, one can go on the south side of state street across I-94 and find gas at the Speedway and Citgo for a lot less than that BP and Mobil station. Good Day
johnnya2
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
Why are those stations more? Could it be rent is higher in those locations? If you want to drive 20 miles to save 15-20 cents a gallon go right ahead. On a 20 gallon tank that equates to $3-$4. If your care gets 20 mpg you will basically break even.
Ignatz
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 11:52 a.m.
Big oil thinks they have us knuckled under enough to not even offer the reason du jour for the increases. When might we break their dominance?
johnnya2
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 12:42 p.m.
What makes you think big oil doesn't have us knuckled over? This countries energy policy is a joke. It is designed to keep them in business. GM had a 20 year head start on electric vehicles and pissed it away.