Gas prices for Summer 2011

[Bobcat]

Oil's surge in 2010 paves the way for $4 gasoline
Price of oil rises 30 percent in 2010; gasoline prices could hit $4 a gallon in 2011

NEW YORK (AP) -- The price of oil is poised for another run at $100 a barrel after a global economic rebound sent it surging 34 percent since May. That could push gasoline prices to $4 a gallon by summer in some parts of the country, experts say.

Flying, shipping a package and ordering a pizza all likely would get more expensive in the new year if that happens and companies pass along higher energy costs. Some economists say rising energy prices will slow economic growth.

The U.S. is the world's largest oil consumer, but prices since spring have been on a roll primarily because of rising demand in developing countries, especially China. China's oil consumption is expected to rise 5 percent next year; that compares with less than 1 percent growth forecast for the U.S.

Benchmark oil for February delivery rose $1.54 on Friday to end the year at $91.38 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It reached $92.06 earlier in the day, the highest since Oct. 6, 2008. Nationwide gasoline pump prices now average $3.072 per gallon.

Gasoline expert Fred Rozell predicts that 15 states -- including Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut and Rhode Island -- will see gasoline prices top $4 a gallon by Memorial Day. "A dollar more per gallon isn't that much -- probably about $750 more per year for each motorist, but there's a psychological aspect to gas prices," he said. "People are going to be up in arms about this."

Higher oil prices have fattened oil company profits. Excluding BP PLC, the four other major investor-owned oil companies posted combined profits of $59.7 billion in the first nine months of the year, a 49 percent increase from the year before. Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron Corp. and Total SA are expected to earn $81 billion for the full year.

The fifth oil giant, BP, was held responsible for the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history and booked $39.9 billion in charges related to the disaster. Excluding special expenses like the Gulf of Mexico spill, analysts say the company will still earn $20.2 billion in 2010.

"There's nothing this industry can't survive," Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Fadel Gheit said.

The price of energy and other commodities shifted into high gear in late August when Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled that the central bank was prepared to

stimulate the economy by buying government bonds. The $600 billion program didn't start until November, but speculators had already starting bidding up the value of asset classes like oil.

A further oil price spurt came in late November as it became clear that Congress was likely to extend for two more years tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is capable of raising output, if it needs to, by more than five million barrels per day. Still, Morgan Stanley estimates that the rising energy needs of China and other emerging economies will consume about half of that amount over the next two years. That could create supply pressures similar to those that preceded the price spike of 2008, when oil soared to $147 a barrel.

John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil and author of "Why We Hate The Oil Companies," predicts Americans will pay $5 per gallon for gasoline by 2012. Other experts say that's a long shot.

"That means oil close to $200" per barrel, analyst and trader Stephen Schork said. "We can see it, but we could also see a global depression, too."

In other Nymex trading Friday, natural gas for February delivery rose 6.7 cents to settle at $4.405 per 1,000 cubic feet. Unlike oil, natural gas prices are less than half where they were in 2008. That's due largely to the technological advances that allowed energy companies to unlock huge deposits in underground shale formations in the U.S.

Heating oil for January delivery rose 5.83 cents to settle at $2.5437 per gallon and gasoline for January delivery added 6.14 cents to settle at $2.4532 per gallon. In London, Brent crude increased $1.66 to settle at $94.75 per gallon.

[MacGyver]

I even heard $5/gallon by summer being discussed on CNN

[MacGyver]

Thats part of the problem. They are blaming the price increase because the economy getting better. And china of course

[ROGUE]

First year I didnt fill the boat up before i put it away, figures.

[gcarter]

This administration has stopped drilling in the Gulf, which supplies 29% of domestic production.
Where's the outrage?
When this happened in '08', the former president was being called the devil and being blamed for it 100%.

Again, where's the outrage?

[Tinkerer]

He is a Democrat. And the news media is in his pocket.

[OzSkater]

Not sure how we compare in Australia but we have been up around $1.39/litre in recent times. That's for unleaded.

[MacGyver]

Not sure how we compare in Australia but we have been up around $1.39/litre in recent times. That's for unleaded.

YIKES! Thats $5.26/gallon

[Monopoly 46]

time to by a paddle boat!!!

[Offshore Ginger]

this reminds me of summer 2008 or was it 2007?, pretty sure it was 2008 when gas hit $4+ a gallon and diesel was over $4 a gallon? I remember filling up the 32' Fountain hit my credit card HARDCORE every weekend...

I sure hope the economy picks up steam by the summer to support $5 a gallon or I'm buying a bicycle...lol

Most likely you already purchased a bicycle for yourself and your new wife just so you could sniff her seat and how does that smell ...............

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

3.60 on the street compared to about 5.25 on the docks here last summer.

[Buoy]

On the street I'm currently 2.85 - 2.99.
Under current circumstances, I consider this "fair".
The "fuel" market - it might as well be a casino. It's NEVER going to lose money. No matter what happens, the house will always win.

[i vant to go fast]

It is like being in a casino. Consider that money gone as soon as you walk in the door, and never look back.

[fund razor]

I can only assume that this is a negligible issue since I am a small fry and will stop boating when gas is $10.00 gal. I mean.... 1000 gallons a year? A buck increase is a grand. A grand. Aren't decent cams a grand? A piece?

[Tony]

Bob must have hit you hard.

[BBB725]

On the street I'm currently 2.85 - 2.99.
Under current circumstances, I consider this "fair".
The "fuel" market - it might as well be a casino. It's NEVER going to lose money. No matter what happens, the house will always win.

$3.25 in the Keys

$3.45 for diesel

[OzSkater]

YIKES! Thats $5.26/gallon

Yeah exactly and here I am trying to justify buying a boat to the "finance minister"......

[fund razor]

Bob must have hit you hard.

It's the dam Morel lifters.

[lucky strike]

$3.99 for high test at the dock here in Pompano
$3.37 yesterday for high test at the BP in the car

[Offshore Ginger]

Yeah exactly and here I am trying to justify buying a boat to the "finance minister"......

And just who is that ...your wife ?