Gas Prices down 75 cents by Labor Day

[BOSSHOG]

Just heard on CBS radio news, some expert saying. So republicans can say what a great job they are doing at managing the economy? You know the lemmings will lap it up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. They did this the last electoral cycle, so why are we

surprised?

[onenote]

14. trying to see a connection to election cycles

Its true that in 2004 prices peaked around Memorial Day and then declined until around Labor Day (although the increase was around $0.50/gallon and the drop was only around

Gas prices climbed by around $.55 a gallon from Jan 04 to late May 04. They then dipped slightly (around $0.15 or so) over the summer before climbing again starting right after Labor Day. Prices peaked again (at close to the same level as before the drop) in late October. There was a very small drop in the week or so before the election, but the big drop didn't occur until after the election.

If the idea is to manipulate prices to impact the election, why would the increase occur in the two months immediately preceding the election?

In 2005, the peak occurred around Labor Day and there was a big drop before election day. But the peak clearly was due in large part to the hurricanes and 2005 is an off-year for elections.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

[Danieljay]

2. of course, and ADHD Americans will buy right in to it, vote Republican

and prices will rise again. How can so many Americans be so STUPID?

[rkc3]

8. 10 years from now we can blame NCLB. Laziness is to blame for this

current round of stupidity.

[AtomicKitten]

3. I heard the GOP will be giving it away with a complimentary Dust Buster.

[Kagemusha]

4. by the way, .75 cents is 3/4ths of a penny not 3/4ths of a dollar

I've had amusing conversations with people about this little foible in other contexts and venues.

[BOSSHOG]

7. Corrected, thank you very much

[catmandu57]

5. Depends on how high they go

in between, .75 may not be much of a drop. You know how greedy these bastards are, can they do it?

[babylonsister]

6. Doesn't this prove manipulation and price gouging, if they can

determine prices will go down after the summer travel season?

[tulsakatz]

11. was there ever a doubt that they weren't gouging?

I used to be on another email list and one of the members wrote in once (about rising gas prices). Anyway, this person got a picture of Bush holding hands with the Saudi guy and printed it out on some sticky notes. Every time they bought gas, they would put one of those on the gas pump for other people to see!

It makes a good point!

I want to do that too..........it's a good reminder of who is really responsible for the price of gas.

[tulsakatz]

9. ....but I thought they said that

high gas prices would be around for 3 yrs!!!

[rocktivity]

10. Labor Day--two months before Election Day...

:boring:
rocknation

[onenote]

15. and if prices go up before election day (as in the past)?

that's what happened in 2004, which sort of undermines the theory that there is a "gas price/election day" conspiracy.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

onenote

[rocktivity]

17. If prices go back up, they blame it on the dems, duh!

:rofl:
rockation

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. what? Is the Shrub all of the sudden going to pull our guys home and

stop waggin his wanker at Iran? If he does, maybe. But then again, Hurricane season is here. I say UP another 75cents.

[BOSSHOG]

13. Hurricanes? Excellent Point

If one gets in the gulf near New Orleans and hits close to the mouth of the Mississippi River it will be Katy bar the gas stations.

[southpaw]

16. We need to co-opt this crisis

Democrats at all levels should be making noise about the high gas prices from now till the election. Then, at least, if the prices do take a steep dive before November, the perception will be that pressure from Democrats was the motivating factor.

We may not be able to exert any real influence over gas prices, but we can make it difficult for Repubs to take credit by being more vocal and forceful in the mean time.

[PurityOfEssence]

18. Let their friends pillage now, then lower prices for the election...

...and claim victory and competence. It's a trick as old as the hills and is probably similar to what they'll try with Iraq troop deployments.

It doesn't even take an idiot to see that high prices aren't justified when there are huge profits.

[Awsi Dooger]

19. Not going to hapen

Prices historically rise over the summer driving season and heading toward Labor Day. They may be artificially high now and that pattern not hold up to the same degree, but no chance you're going to get a 25% price decrease. They will probably drop from Labor Day until Election Day, dependent on hurricane season.

That's another reason you won't get a big drop before Labor Day. Whenever one of those south Atlantic hurricanes is potentially heading toward the Gulf, there will be fear regarding the drilling platforms and the speculators will drive the price up.

[RebelOne]

20. Well, they have dropped 30 to 40 cents within the past 2 weeks in my area.

Two weeks ago, the prices were from $2.78 to $2.90. This morning I paid $2.58. This was the first time in a long while that I have been able to fill my tank for under $25.

[Vickers]

21. OUR spin: "So they *admit* they can manipulate gas prices?"

:shrug: