SC

(Sudden) Pain At The Pump

Six days ago this website conducted its usual mid-month review of gas prices in South Carolina – and across the country. And boy did we ever pick the wrong week to take stock of this critical index … Last week, the average price for unleaded gasoline in South Carolina was…

Six days ago this website conducted its usual mid-month review of gas prices in South Carolina – and across the country. And boy did we ever pick the wrong week to take stock of this critical index …

Last week, the average price for unleaded gasoline in South Carolina was $3.37 a gallon according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge report. That figure was well below the national average of $3.61.

In just six days, however, South Carolina’s per gallon average price has shot up to $3.60 – a whopping 23-cent increase. Nationally, gas prices have climbed to $3.76 per gallon – a fifteen cent increase.

South Carolina still has some of the cheapest gas in America (the seventh-cheapest, as a matter of fact), but as we’ve noted on numerous previous occasions our dirt poor citizens pay a much larger percentage of their income on fuel costs (more than any state save Mississippi). Hence our opposition to gas tax increases – and support for gas tax cuts.

Anyway … we didn’t want to let the month go by without providing an update based on these rapid price increases.

What’s causing this fresh pain at the pump? A report from Fox Business speculates that the increases might be the result of tax policy in oil-rich states like Texas and Louisiana. According to the theory, those states assess gulf coast fuel inventories on December 31 – prompting companies to reduce their supply by millions of barrels in an effort to limit their exposure.

What’s gas like in your neck of the woods? Post your experiences in our comments section below …

***

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66 comments

BigT February 20, 2013 at 1:21 pm

And it’s just going to get worse…w/ no need for re-election…
Where are all the Obama worshipers now…????
Never have we had a president so incompetent and uncaring about our country…and never have we had a following of him of such Ignorant people…
I wonder if the Dumb@$$#$ who suck this B@$!@*d care if their children starve, as long as they can praise their heartless god???

Reply
Isotope Soap February 20, 2013 at 1:51 pm

Welcome back, Bigums! I knew you’d crack over this outrage Obama caused you and your weed eater.

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 12:21 pm

And it’s just going to get worse…w/ no need for re-election…
Where are all the Obama worshipers now…????
Never have we had a president so incompetent and uncaring about our country…and never have we had a following of him of such Ignorant people…
I wonder if the Dumb@$$#$ who suck this B@$!@*d care if their children starve, as long as they can praise their heartless god???

Reply
John Boy February 20, 2013 at 12:51 pm

Welcome back, Bigums! I knew you’d crack over this outrage Obama caused you and your weed eater.

Reply
Nölff February 20, 2013 at 1:23 pm

The price always goes up before every Spring. Oil companies run down supply of Winter gas and replace it with Summer gas.
That may not be the only factor, but it has a lot to do with it.

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 1:28 pm

STFU you excuse-making IDIOT…We’re in an EXTREME Recession…
Where are all the %^&*( in Jobs your god and savior promised…???
Make an excuse for that…and don’t invoke Bush…you Brain d#@d piece of debis…
I’m sickm you you IGORANT A-Holes spewing ignorance…

Reply
dwb619 February 20, 2013 at 1:58 pm

ALWAYS refreshing and enlightening to read the well thought out opinions of a “professional journalist”, their vocabulary far exceeds that of the humble masses!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!

Reply
Charlemagne, King of France February 20, 2013 at 2:07 pm

theres the T we all know and love, where have you been? someone capable of coherant thoughts has been posting as you recently

Reply
Guest February 20, 2013 at 2:15 pm

“It’s Obama’s fault” is the answer to everything, you Drudgertard. Go stick your nipples in a helicopter blade. Who wants to fight on the internet? HIIIYYAAA!!! Hadouken! summon lighting lvl. 5000!

Dork

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 2:37 pm

, TRULYIt is TRULY SICKENING is to see this economy (among other things) Trashed with the onset of Obama…and then see Full-Fledged, Brain Dead FOOLS demand no accountability…and even defend Obama’s disasterous failure…
You are either VERY STUPID or Corrupt..and you d@#n sure don’t care about anybody else, as long as your god is worshiped.
I just hope you have not pro-created. I’d hate to think your children would have a parent choosing an idol god like Obama over their welfare and decency and morality…,
I mean this: You are a D@*n DISGRACE…

Reply
Nölff February 20, 2013 at 2:17 pm

I know what I said to be a fact because I used to work for RL Jordan Oil Co.

Reply
Sailor February 20, 2013 at 2:27 pm

If you are sick of ignorant assholes spewing ingnorance, stop posting!

Reply
dwb619 February 20, 2013 at 1:57 pm

Speculators have jumped back in also.

Reply
Nölff February 20, 2013 at 12:23 pm

The price always goes up before every Spring. Oil companies run down supply of Winter gas and replace it with Summer gas.
That may not be the only factor, but it has a lot to do with it.

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 12:28 pm

STFU you excuse-making IDIOT…We’re in an EXTREME Recession…
Where are all the %^&*( in Jobs your god and savior promised…???
Make an excuse for that…and don’t invoke Bush…you Brain d#@d piece of debis…
I’m sickm you you IGORANT A-Holes spewing ignorance…

Reply
dwb619 February 20, 2013 at 12:58 pm

ALWAYS refreshing and enlightening to read the well thought out opinions of a “professional journalist”, their vocabulary far exceeds that of the humble masses!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!

Reply
Charlemagne, King of France February 20, 2013 at 1:07 pm

theres the T we all know and love, where have you been? someone capable of coherant thoughts has been posting as you recently

Reply
Guest February 20, 2013 at 1:15 pm

“It’s Obama’s fault” is the answer to everything, you Drudgertard. Go stick your nipples in a helicopter blade. Who wants to fight on the internet? HIIIYYAAA!!! Hadouken! summon lighting lvl. 5000!

Dork

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 1:37 pm

, TRULYIt is TRULY SICKENING is to see this economy (among other things) Trashed with the onset of Obama…and then see Full-Fledged, Brain Dead FOOLS demand no accountability…and even defend Obama’s disasterous failure…
You are either VERY STUPID or Corrupt..and you d@#n sure don’t care about anybody else, as long as your god is worshiped.
I just hope you have not pro-created. I’d hate to think your children would have a parent choosing an idol god like Obama over their welfare and decency and morality…,
I mean this: You are a D@*n DISGRACE…

Reply
Nölff February 20, 2013 at 1:17 pm

I know what I said to be a fact because I used to work for RL Jordan Oil Co.

Reply
Sailor February 20, 2013 at 1:27 pm

If you are sick of ignorant assholes spewing ingnorance, stop posting!

Reply
dwb619 February 20, 2013 at 12:57 pm

Speculators have jumped back in also.

Reply
? February 20, 2013 at 2:16 pm

There is no inflation….move along….nothing to see here.

Reply
? February 20, 2013 at 1:16 pm

There is no inflation….move along….nothing to see here.

Reply
BinxBolling February 20, 2013 at 2:36 pm

Don’t forget refinery repairs/shutdowns due to storm damage, etc., that can affect supply. I’m not saying the evil political/business bogeymen aren’t picking your pockets, or whatever it is they do…but some of it’s just practical stuff that isn’t as fun to speculate about.

Reply
BinxBolling February 20, 2013 at 1:36 pm

Don’t forget refinery repairs/shutdowns due to storm damage, etc., that can affect supply. I’m not saying the evil political/business bogeymen aren’t picking your pockets, or whatever it is they do…but some of it’s just practical stuff that isn’t as fun to speculate about.

Reply
Same ol' Same ol' February 20, 2013 at 3:20 pm

move the nozzle

Reply
Andy February 21, 2013 at 10:56 am

Maybe she likes the nozzle there!

Reply
Same ol' Same ol' February 20, 2013 at 2:20 pm

move the nozzle

Reply
Andy February 21, 2013 at 9:56 am

Maybe she likes the nozzle there!

Reply
stickler February 20, 2013 at 3:39 pm

According to a McClatchy Newspapers article:

“Commercial end-users of oil such as airlines and trucking companies who once dominated 70 percent of the market for future deliveries of oil now represent just 30 percent. Non-commercial financial speculators now dominate 70 percent of the market. The trading is dominated by Wall Street banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions that have no intention to take delivery of the oil needed to make gasoline.”

The latest news is that “Benchmark crude for April delivery dropped $2.14, or 2.2 percent, to $94.96 a barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The March contract, which expires Wednesday, fell $2.07 to $94.59 per barrel.”

Don’t hold your breath for a drop in gasoline prices as a result.

Reply
tomstickler February 20, 2013 at 2:39 pm

According to a McClatchy Newspapers article:

“Commercial end-users of oil such as airlines and trucking companies who once dominated 70 percent of the market for future deliveries of oil now represent just 30 percent. Non-commercial financial speculators now dominate 70 percent of the market. The trading is dominated by Wall Street banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions that have no intention to take delivery of the oil needed to make gasoline.”

The latest news is that “Benchmark crude for April delivery dropped $2.14, or 2.2 percent, to $94.96 a barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The March contract, which expires Wednesday, fell $2.07 to $94.59 per barrel.”

Don’t hold your breath for a drop in gasoline prices as a result.

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 4:40 pm

Gas speculators KNOW Obama has no plan to fuel production. They also know they can jack the price up w/ Barry’s blessing, because he thinks making familes suffer his gas tax is the way to Conservation. The Enviro-Nuts get off on that…
There is no Keystone Pipeline because it would use oil liik God meant it to be used. Liberals HATE God and they hate Americns living free…
Keep voting for idiots like Obama…That clown lives like a King w/ NO restrictions….he does not give a flying *#!* if you have to buy gas instead of feed your child…
We have Marie Antionette in the White House…and as long as the voters are so stupid, it will not change…Eat Cake….as long as he can jet and play gold w/ the Filthy rich like Tiger Woods…

Reply
PanT February 20, 2013 at 10:01 pm

“…God meant it to be used?”

So, God wants us to help Canada EXPORT their oil, or what? It wasn’t planed for US consumers. How many times, T? How many times…

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Gas speculators KNOW Obama has no plan to fuel production. They also know they can jack the price up w/ Barry’s blessing, because he thinks making familes suffer his gas tax is the way to Conservation. The Enviro-Nuts get off on that…
There is no Keystone Pipeline because it would use oil liik God meant it to be used. Liberals HATE God and they hate Americns living free…
Keep voting for idiots like Obama…That clown lives like a King w/ NO restrictions….he does not give a flying *#!* if you have to buy gas instead of feed your child…
We have Marie Antionette in the White House…and as long as the voters are so stupid, it will not change…Eat Cake….as long as he can jet and play gold w/ the Filthy rich like Tiger Woods…

Reply
PanT February 20, 2013 at 9:01 pm

“…God meant it to be used?”

So, God wants us to help Canada EXPORT their oil, or what? It wasn’t planed for US consumers. How many times, T? How many times…

Reply
9" February 20, 2013 at 5:13 pm

while you’re trying to decide who poor people should be able to call, google BP’s profits last month

Reply
Lexguy February 21, 2013 at 12:38 pm

But what is the profit MARGIN?

Reply
9" February 20, 2013 at 4:13 pm

while you’re trying to decide who poor people should be able to call, google BP’s profits last month

Reply
Lexguy February 21, 2013 at 11:38 am

But what is the profit MARGIN?

Reply
Philip Branton February 20, 2013 at 6:35 pm

LOL…..LOL…..ol’ Wil Folks is up to his gas price antics once again…!!

Pain at the pump..?? How about PAIN from IED’s or Pain from DEAD Americans fighting for FOREIGN OIL pipeline routes and boomerang DRUG WAR loot…!!

Mr. WIl Folks…..it is articles just like this that make you out to be the real spinster that you are….~!!!

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 6:54 pm

You talkin’ bout Obama’s Dirty Little War in Afghanistan???..and why won’t Obama let us get domestic oil (Keystone Pipeline?)…
PS: I doubt the children freed from prison or the women saved from stoning by the Muslim men who raped them, think it’s a war for oil…
You must have plenty of money to feed your kids and pay Obama’s gas tax…yet you want other people’s children to starve…
A real CL-ASS act…

Reply
dwb619 February 20, 2013 at 10:09 pm

The Keystone is for pumping Canadian crude to the Texas refineries for export. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to fathom how FUCKING STUPID you are!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!

Reply
BigT February 21, 2013 at 2:26 pm

What about all the jobs Keystone would provide??? What has Obama fed you barinwashed Dumb@$$ about that???…
For that matter: where are all the jobs Obama promised pre-election???…the economy is shrinking, idiot…
You Brain-Dead Dip$#t*s will buy anything the media feeds you…You deserve proverty and Obama …the rest of us don’t….

Reply
dwb619 February 21, 2013 at 3:33 pm

Duh, hasn’t the route been finalized recently?
You can grab your welding rig and head on out. I am sure all those UA Pipeliners out of Tulsa will be glad to “break you in”!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!

BigT February 21, 2013 at 7:07 pm

I can’t tell if you are for it or agianst it, you stupid F%^k. You talk from both sides of your mouth, once you remove Obama’s shaft……you certainly are your masters Dumb@$$…

dwb619 February 21, 2013 at 8:28 pm

I just love it when you orate with such verbosity!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
P.S., all those pipe liners are UNION !
Live Better!
Work UNION!

TontoBubbaGoldstein February 20, 2013 at 10:21 pm

You talkin’ bout Obama’s Dirty Little War in Afghanistan???

/facepalm

Reply
Philip Branton February 20, 2013 at 5:35 pm

LOL…..LOL…..ol’ Wil Folks is up to his gas price antics once again…!!

Pain at the pump..?? How about PAIN from IED’s or Pain from DEAD Americans fighting for FOREIGN OIL pipeline routes and boomerang DRUG WAR loot…!!

Mr. WIl Folks…..it is articles just like this that make you out to be the real spinster that you are….~!!!

Reply
BigT February 20, 2013 at 5:54 pm

You talkin’ bout Obama’s Dirty Little War in Afghanistan???..and why won’t Obama let us get domestic oil (Keystone Pipeline?)…
PS: I doubt the children freed from prison or the women saved from stoning by the Muslim men who raped them, think it’s a war for oil…
You must have plenty of money to feed your kids and pay Obama’s gas tax…yet you want other people’s children to starve…
A real CL-ASS act…

Reply
dwb619 February 20, 2013 at 9:09 pm

The Keystone is for pumping Canadian crude to the Texas refineries for export. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to fathom how FUCKING STUPID you are!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!

Reply
BigT February 21, 2013 at 1:26 pm

What about all the jobs Keystone would provide??? What has Obama fed you barinwashed Dumb@$$ about that???…
For that matter: where are all the jobs Obama promised pre-election???…the economy is shrinking, idiot…
You Brain-Dead Dip$#t*s will buy anything the media feeds you…You deserve proverty and Obama …the rest of us don’t….

Reply
dwb619 February 21, 2013 at 2:33 pm

Duh, hasn’t the route been finalized recently?
You can grab your welding rig and head on out. I am sure all those UA Pipeliners out of Tulsa will be glad to “break you in”!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!

BigT February 21, 2013 at 6:07 pm

I can’t tell if you are for it or agianst it, you stupid F%^k. You talk from both sides of your mouth, once you remove Obama’s shaft……you certainly are your masters Dumb@$$…

dwb619 February 21, 2013 at 7:28 pm

I just love it when you orate with such verbosity!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
P.S., all those pipe liners are UNION !
Live Better!
Work UNION!

TontoBubbaGoldstein February 20, 2013 at 9:21 pm

You talkin’ bout Obama’s Dirty Little War in Afghanistan???

/facepalm

Reply
JRH February 20, 2013 at 8:05 pm

Bottom line,the oil cos. have took over control of our economy ,like it or not,Between the lobbiest and Wall St. our economy is going down the tubes ,Gas and oil control the price of every thing we buy. The price of everything has gone out the roof! All the politicians talk about the economy but who do you hear trying to stop the Oil Cos. Ripping us off. Read all the news reports we are not short of oil,we are refining more than we have in years ,importing less ,pumping more out of wells in the U.S. We are even exporting more now than ever ,so whats up ? Why are they not building more refinerys instead of shutting them down? More oil needs more refinerys ,I would think ,if they drill more ,run the xl pipeline where is the oil going to get refined here or overseas? I dont know but i think its all got a bad smell to me!

Reply
JRH February 20, 2013 at 7:05 pm

Bottom line,the oil cos. have took over control of our economy ,like it or not,Between the lobbiest and Wall St. our economy is going down the tubes ,Gas and oil control the price of every thing we buy. The price of everything has gone out the roof! All the politicians talk about the economy but who do you hear trying to stop the Oil Cos. Ripping us off. Read all the news reports we are not short of oil,we are refining more than we have in years ,importing less ,pumping more out of wells in the U.S. We are even exporting more now than ever ,so whats up ? Why are they not building more refinerys instead of shutting them down? More oil needs more refinerys ,I would think ,if they drill more ,run the xl pipeline where is the oil going to get refined here or overseas? I dont know but i think its all got a bad smell to me!

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein February 20, 2013 at 10:15 pm

That pic is creating conflicting and disturbing feelings for me.

Seriously though, can anyone tell me why my gravatar ain’t working?

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein February 20, 2013 at 9:15 pm

That pic is creating conflicting and disturbing feelings for me.

Seriously though, can anyone tell me why my gravatar ain’t working?

Reply
Cleveland Steamer February 21, 2013 at 3:57 am

Raise your hand if you think any president has control of oil prices. Now step in line for your cone of wisedom. We are an oligarchy, get used to it.

Reply
Cleveland Steamer February 21, 2013 at 2:57 am

Raise your hand if you think any president has control of oil prices. Now step in line for your cone of wisedom. We are an oligarchy, get used to it.

Reply
Cleveland Steamer February 21, 2013 at 3:59 am

Oh btw that’s my son posing in drag.

Reply
Cleveland Steamer February 21, 2013 at 2:59 am

Oh btw that’s my son posing in drag.

Reply
nitrat February 21, 2013 at 5:49 pm

Do you read /watch the national news?

The most likely reason this has happened nationwide is, besides commodities speculation, is that a couple of years ago a guy named Bill Klesse of a refinery company named Valero closed several of his refineries ago because he was not making enough money from them (Valero was making enough to provide Kleese with $11Million in compensation in 2011).

Personally, I think someone is trying to put pressure so that Keystone XL is approved so that those refineries can be used to refine oil to send to China – which is where every bit of the Keystone oil will be going, not one drop for the USA. We are simply the land it goes over so Canada won’t have to go through their Rockies and despoil their land.

Reply
nitrat February 21, 2013 at 4:49 pm

Do you read /watch the national news?

The most likely reason this has happened nationwide is, besides commodities speculation, is that a couple of years ago a guy named Bill Klesse of a refinery company named Valero closed several of his refineries ago because he was not making enough money from them (Valero was making enough to provide Kleese with $11Million in compensation in 2011).

Personally, I think someone is trying to put pressure so that Keystone XL is approved so that those refineries can be used to refine oil to send to China – which is where every bit of the Keystone oil will be going, not one drop for the USA. We are simply the land it goes over so Canada won’t have to go through their Rockies and despoil their land.

Reply

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