Gas prices climbed to $4.05 at Westside 66 & Car Wash, 2815 W. 6th, on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, despite oil falling more than $9 a barrel over two days.
It had to happen. Lawrence now has joined the ranks of other cities whose drivers are paying more than $4 a gallon for gas.
On Tuesday, motorists filling up at the Phillips 66 gasoline station at Sixth Street and Schwarz Road were paying $4.05 for regular unleaded gasoline.
"Apparently if they (oil companies) are posting billion-dollar profits, something isn't right," Matthias Wilson, a Kansas City, Mo., resident said as he filled up.
And while Lawrence drivers might not be used to paying more than $4 a gallon, Wilson noted his gasoline would have cost at least a nickel more in Kansas City.
Gasoline prices are catching the attention of some local residents, who are changing their driving habits.
"It's a little outrageous, but it's something we've gotta live with," Vance Freeman said, pumping more than $70 of gasoline into his pickup truck. "I take my trips around town; I fill everything in as I go and get to all the spots that way."
As gasoline prices continue to increase, commuters are finding even more ways to change their driving habits.
"We're seeing that people are paying attention to the trips they take, what vehicles they drive and how fast they're driving," AAA spokesman Jim Hanni said.
With no sharp decline in prices in sight, some people are rerouting their summer vacations.
"Vacation-wise we were going to drive to Texas, but now we're going to Colorado instead, making it a shorter trip," Freeman said.
High energy prices
Price pace
AAA began reporting gasoline prices in 2000. Here's when the city of Lawrence hit benchmark prices, according to AAA's Historical Fuel Gauge Report:
¢ Jan. 1, 2000: $1.16.
¢ March 9, 2005: $2.
¢ May 10, 2007: $3.
¢ July 8, 2008: $4.
Comments
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Azure_Attitude (anonymous) says…
Wait a minute. Oil went down $9 a barrel in the last two days so W T F is up with this?
buffbonzai (anonymous) says…
Oh boohoo, it's $4.50 in Seattle. Plus, it's still cheaper to fill up in the US than in Europe. Not that I condone big gas companies making billions of dollars off us poor workin' folk...
Boeing (anonymous) says…
buffbonzai - yes, but the cost of living is higher and wages are higher in Seattle. It kinda evens out. I grew up in LA and also live in Miami and Chicago, and gas is more expensive in all 3, but so is everything else, and wages are higher too. As for Europe...yep, thank GOD we're not as expensive as Europe. I heard the UK hit what is equivalent to $10/gallon, and that was back in April or so. Yikes!
notajayhawk (anonymous) says…
I wonder what the Car Wash costs.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…
"Plus, it's still cheaper to fill up in the US than in Europe. "I don't live in Europe.
weatherguy48 (anonymous) says…
Europe's gas prices are a result of heavy taxation. It's kind of funny how much their fuel tax is over there.
weatherguy48 (anonymous) says…
By the way I paid $3.87 for tonight at the gas near 23rd and Alabama, and Quicktrip is still at like $3.94.
weatherguy48 (anonymous) says…
I butchered that post hardcore, I'll suggest it's removal and repost:By the way I paid $3.87 for gas tonight at the gas station near 23rd and Alabama, and Quicktrip is still at like $3.94.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
In 6 months it should be perfect timing to purchase a late model SUV cheap! My hunch is Soros, the creator of move on . org and a big Obama backer, is the catalyst in this pricing debacle. All to get his man elected. He's only made $2.9 Billion in the futures market. I also enjoyed how the democrats in congress had him testify to see what he suggested to curb these speculators (which he is!). Takes the heat off of him since he is trying to "help" the government. Kind of like Joe Kennedy heading a presidential prohibition committee during prohibition, while all along he was illegally importing liquor from Canada into the United States - that's how the Kennedy's got so filthy rich.
iLikelawrence (anonymous) says…
my moped gets 114mpg and keeps up on all lawrence roads.Up yours OPEC
weatherguy48 (anonymous) says…
Can you finance a moped from Vespa or whoever has that dealership on 23rd? Because if it's possible, I will look into it. I just don't have $1000-$7000 on hand right now
b_asinbeer (anonymous) says…
Vespas are too expensive. Go for a Roketa. Cheaper? Yes. Less reliable? Perhaps. But, you still get very good gas mileage under a grand's worth of expense/investment.
igby (anonymous) says…
back in the 1970's we had "mini bikes".What ever happen to the mini-bike?For around $500
igby (anonymous) says…
Ilikelawrence:Watch out for those pot holes or you'll need braces for your teeth.
Daytrader23 (anonymous) says…
BigPrune (Anonymous) says: In 6 months it should be perfect timing to purchase a late model SUV cheap!My hunch is Soros, the creator of move on . org and a big Obama backer, is the catalyst in this pricing debacle. All to get his man elected. He's only made $2.9 Billion in the futures market. I also enjoyed how the democrats in congress had him testify to see what he suggested to curb these speculators (which he is!). Takes the heat off of him since he is trying to "help" the government. Kind of like Joe Kennedy heading a presidential prohibition committee during prohibition, while all along he was illegally importing liquor from Canada into the United States - that's how the Kennedy's got so filthy rich.I say,Why don't you blame India and China for growing at 20% per year. The world produces 87 million barrels per day. The world consumes 85 million barrels per day. The economies of the worlds two largest populations are increasing at 20% per year. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that we will consume over 87 million barrels per day some time in the very close future. It's not some conspiracy between the oil companies and speculators or Soros (2.9 billion was just traded last hour so his profits are peanuts compared to the global market) It's called supply and demand in a free market, democratic society. If you don't like it then move to a communists country when they have gas subsidies. High fuel costs are here to stay until they build more refineries or the mass population decides to conserve and consume less.So get used to it.
sunflower1990 (anonymous) says…
Azure_Attitude (Anonymous) says:Wait a minute. Oil went down $9 a barrel in the last two days so W T F is up with this?_______________http://www.oilmarketer.co.uk/2008/07/08/crude-prices-drop-over-9-in-two-days/
standuporget (anonymous) says…
And while Lawrence drivers might not be used to paying more than $4 a gallon, Wilson noted his gasoline would have cost at least a nickel more in Kansas City. Gas prices went down in Overland Park from 4.06 to 3.96
redbird (anonymous) says…
How about selling the OPEC countries bushels of grain for the same price that they sell barrels of oil....seems fair,as quoted above "supply and demand".
DEDO (anonymous) says…
Drive faster! It wastes more gas!
merrill (anonymous) says…
Gasoline does cost more in america. The USA oil cartel expects taxpayers to provide protection for it's risky ventures abroad.The current mideast saga for instance is pegged at $3,000,000,000,000(trillion) when considering 10's of thousands of disabled troops,their care and disability pay. Plus the times when Reagan/Bush and Clinton did military actions. Not to mention the dead soldiers.How is gasoline less expensive in america?
merrill (anonymous) says…
It's not the price it's the pollution no matter where oil comes from.Boycott gasoline at every opportunity! That's the key. Why should oil cartels cut prices when demand never is reduced significantly?
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
It is amazing that when Oil goes up, gasoline follows quickly, but when Oil goes down, gas prices are slow to adjust. What is up with that??
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
I don't buy the supply and demand argument driving up the price of oil. It's the speculators driving up the prices, manipulating the market, and manipulating a presidential election. On the backs of the American people to get one guy elected. The Saudis increase production and the price of oil goes up, thanks to speculators. It's the amoral thing to do.I thought the Iraq war was going to give us cheap gasoline, wasn't that the liberal argument?
chet_larock (anonymous) says…
Azure, there seems to be a lag in the prices Lawrence see compared to KC - I work in Lenexa and the prices had been over $4 for at least a week, while I could find gas at $3.79 or $3.82 in Lawrence during that same period of time. I think that Phillips 66 on 6th trends higher than other places around town. Also, I'm not sure what to make of the big fluctuations I've noticed at the BP on Louisiana and 23rd -- last week I saw regular gas at $3.99 for a few days while other places were much cheaper, then all of a sudden it was $3.82. Maybe it has something to do with the price they purchase it at?
chet_larock (anonymous) says…
BP, what the eff are you talking about??
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
I was responding to daytrader. He's a speculator (or so his name implies) too!
samsnewplace (anonymous) says…
redbird: excellent idea! If what we import is sky high, then what we export should be as well. Supply and demand, correct? Good suggestion, too bad it won't be followed through with.
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
I trust that arson is down...?(Tho' it is getting pricier to burn the bastards in effigy.)
Azure_Attitude (anonymous) says…
*Yawn* Your rhetoric is so tired, Big Prune. The boys in charge now have screwed the pooch so bad there is not enough parfume in the world to make the turd that is their policy smell better, and all you and your ilk can do is holler about the liberals. Un gatz, man.Try not to wet your pants November 5th.
temperance (anonymous) says…
I stubbed my toe this morning. I blame George Soros. I'm sure Clinton was involved too, but I'm not certain how just yet. And don't tell me about the big crack in the sidewalk. I'm sure that had nothing to do with it . . .
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
marioni, you forgot to use the phrase "... and there is nothing you can to about it...."
EXks (anonymous) says…
anyone seen those Smart Cars, about the size of a roller skate? almost 50 mpg, maybe time to buy one!fuel is $5.05 per gallon in the SF bay area (most places), you can still find one or two dealers at $4.99.now if we respond to the Iranian "threat" $4.00 per gal will seem cheap! folks, we're in for some deep, deep poo
Azure_Attitude (anonymous) says…
Barry, you're welcome! Now why don't you and Prune go get a room. *Yawn*There is alternative technology available now that just needs a little more push to get it going. Maybe Pickens is just the one to jump start it. He's a money man who sees the big picture and the future is alternative energy not not drilling in the ANWR.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…
I saw an interesting article on the TV news last night about small towns issuing permits to allow golf carts to be used on city streets as a response to increasing gas prices. They had to pay something like $15 for a yearly registration and had to have lights if they were to be operated at night. Sounded like something Baldwin, Eudora, Desoto, etc. should consider.
Boeing (anonymous) says…
"Who needs oil? I ride the bus!"And...what does that bus run on? If gas goes up to, say, $8/gallon...you think the price of a ride is going to stay the same, especially with the T's struggles already ongoing? Good luck with that!
compmd (anonymous) says…
The American civilian population is the most heavily armed in the world, and yet we stand by and take this crap. I can't believe we haven't had someone shoot up the homes of some oil company execs.
srj (anonymous) says…
"I want to thank the Liberals for shutting down the creation of energy and putting us light years behind other countries"At least thank them for the cleaner air over the past 30 years then. Those other countries will face those problems in the future.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
http://www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/...
iLikelawrence (anonymous) says…
igby,No kidding on the potholes. You have to change your driving habits on a moped because you vs. anything results 9/10 times in anything winning. From potholes to cars and bikes. Iowa street is the DMZ of mopeds.You don't have to drive a snobby vespa but I wouldn't buy a moped that you have to mix oil/gas to make work. Instead I drive a honda metropolitan. 1200 bucks. And it's a honda. With premium its about 4 cents a mile.
BrianR (anonymous) says…
The floo network and portkeys are the way to go.
HW (anonymous) says…
EXks (Anonymous) says: anyone seen those Smart Cars, about the size of a roller skate? almost 50 mpg, maybe time to buy one!Here is my question. Why are car manufacturers making cars that get 50-60 mpg and selling them over seas, but not selling them here in america. If you compare the Chevy Aveo that is sold in America to the Chevy Aveo that is sold in the UK, the difference is huge. The Aveo sold in America gets 34 MPG (hwy), not bad for what we are used to. The Aveo that is sold in the UK gets 61+ MPG. That is almost twice the MPG. The other thing that gets me, is some of these cars are built here in America, and shipped over seas. Check out the two sites below if you don't believe me. If you check out the Ford and Chrysler websites, you will find the same thing going on.http://www.chevrolet.com/http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/
madameX (anonymous) says…
barrypenders (Anonymous) says: I want to thank the Liberals for shutting down the creation of energy and putting us light years behind other countries.______________________________________________Which countries are we light years behind? China? India? Uzbeckistan?
dweezil222 (anonymous) says…
Thank christ I don't drive a diesel.Someone explain to me how the hell it's fifty cents more than unleaded.... you can make diesel out of kitchen grease, for crying out loud.
bwoodard (Bill Woodard) says…
HW: It's a metric-conversion thing. The figures you see for the UK are kilometers per gallon, not miles per gallon.
HW (anonymous) says…
Bill,Check out the website. It is specifically noted as mpg. I thought the same thing when I first saw the numbers. What really kills me, is they have a SUV (Chevy Captiva) that gets 43 MPG. That is still better than probably %95 of all of our compact cars.
gphawk89 (anonymous) says…
"anyone seen those Smart Cars, about the size of a roller skate? almost 50 mpg, maybe time to buy one!"My '86 Chevy Sprint gets almost 50 mpg, and I'm sure the price of the car, taxes, and insurance are WAY lower than that of a Smart Car. And the Sprint is a lot bigger than a roller skate.I still don't understand how after 20 years of "technological advances" our new "high MPG" cars are still not as efficient as a worn-out 22-year-old Sprint.
belle (anonymous) says…
Gas may be more expensive in Europe, but I bet we still pay more in gas. We have to drive much further to get to our destinations and our public transportation is not as it is in Europe.
HW (anonymous) says…
Marion,I wondered about that a little bit, but that is why I specifically used the Chevy Aveo as my example. The car is the same, just a different powerplant. I noticed on the Chrysler websites that most of the cars we get here are sold in the UK with deisel engines in them. The Ford Focus over here is rated at 36 MPG (if I remember right), and in the UK you can get it with a deisel and it gets 60+ MPG. I am sure there is a problem with emisions, but if you are using less fuel, then if you add up the emissions from transporting oil, refining the oil, and then transporting the fuel, then I bet the emissions would at least be a wash.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Radio news today stated China was increasing vehicles @ 9 million per year which means China may catch up to the USA in about 10 years. With that type of increase on the table why would Oil cartels decrease the price of gasoline?The USA is 5% of the world population demanding 25% of the world energy supply. How would that type of demand decrease the price of anything? High demand = high prices aka inflation and irresponsible spending rules!The answers:Stop buying cars that support extraordinary demand.Conserve on energy across the board aka conservationAmerica should be smart enough to realize gas guzzlers are a thing of the past which means america needs to move forward and get off the oil/gasoline nipple.China will bury america through economics. They don't need a military war. Thank you Wal-Mart!
dandelion (anonymous) says…
"I want to thank the Liberals for shutting down the creation of energy and putting us light years behind other countries"Yet the "liberals" had to pass a law forcing oil companies to decide to drill on their leased federal land or lose the lease. The argument is that it would be too expensive to make a study and build oil rigs. Why should they do that when their profits would be smaller? The oil companies want to drill, but then they don't want to invest the money in the risk. So if they are allowed to drill in ANWR, who says they are going to since they aren't drilling in other leased land. Drilling in ANWR is a smoke screen to divert people's anger towards "liberals" and not towards greedy oil companies.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
T Boone Pickens is ALSO a commodities trader, just like SOROS. Of course he would never try to jack up the price of oil to increase the likelyhood that his natural gas scheme gets passed, just as Soros would never jack up the price of oil to get his "green" companies to increase in value. Surely, these super rich money to burn people would NEVER do this to the little people.One question, if the polar ice caps melt, wouldn't the coastline actually increase in size instead of flood? Of course they will, no need to answer my question.Don't forget to vote Obama for president. He won't lower the gasoline prices, but we will all have change in our pockets instead of dollars.Okay, Obama internet hit squad, let me have it.
none2 (anonymous) says…
I am surprised that more aren't mentioning another reason that gas prices are up. The dollar has been down for a long time against other major currencies such as the Euro. OPEC still pegs oil to the US dollar. If the dollar had more value, there still might be some increase in prices, but not as much Here is US vs Canada: (almost 1 to 1 -- I remember when 70 cents got you a Canadian dollar.)http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?from=USD&to=CAD&amt=1&t=5yHere is US vs Europe (Euro) ($1.00 US == 63 cents Euro)http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=EUR&submit=ConvertAgain, it isn't the sole contributer to high prices, but it is a contributing factor.
iLikelawrence (anonymous) says…
I bet in twenty years each family has one gas consuming vehicle such as a honda accord or CRV for 200mi + driving distances and smaller electric/hybrid or full electric call for day-to-day needsNote: I drive a moped because I'm cheap not a beatnik hippie GW hating liberal
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Marion, you are claiming you won't buy a car because of a $30 - $40K loan? A rich guy like you who makes $1500 a day! I'm shocked that anyone so rich would bother with a loan at all, instead of just paying cash. Why, that should be chump change for someone like you.Has anyone noticed that while we have had oil men in the White House, prices have doubled? I guess it is just a coincidence. Nevermind.