I keep hearing that the FTC reports that there is no price gouging

[johnaries]

in gas prices.

First of all, the report is very narrow and only focuses on post-Katrina prices; not current prices.

Further, the report found no evidence of "price fixing" or market manipulation. However, it DID find price gouging:

"The FTC said that while it found no instances of illegal market manipulation, it did find 15 examples of price gouging, where gasoline was sold above average regional price levels even though the higher prices was not justified by production, delivery or transportation costs."

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B079C1E75-E33C-46D0-8710-56EC8F5FA405%7D&siteid=google

[goddess40]

1. Yeah, I believe everything the federal gov't says

The report is just as I expected. With two oil men in the White House did anyone expect any other outcome.

[johnaries]

3. According to the foxes, the henhouses are safe. n/t

[Skink]

2. Price adjusting.

doesn't that just feel better.

[indepat]

4. You can not believe everything you hear from this junta any more than you

can believe the statistics they put out.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

5. henry waxman mocked this report on house floor this morning

[lindisfarne]

6. Our recourse is to lower our demand for petroleum-based products

walk, bike, car-pool, ride public transport, support alternative sources of energy in general. Even if it's just one day a week to your job. And walk to the store one out of five times (on one of your lighter shopping trips) - most Americans live less than 1 mile from the stores they drive to (use your kids' stroller if the amount you need to buy exceeds what you can carry in a backpack). America needs the exercise.

Decreased demand is the only way to lower prices.