It took 3 minutes to post this entry for April 25, 2008

"Refiners are now curbing production of gasoline even more than consumers have cut back on driving, so gasoline prices are now rising faster than oil prices," says Judy Dugan, research director of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog (formerly the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights) of Santa Monica. "What drivers and the economy as a whole can't afford is an industry bent on having it both ways," says Ms. Dugan. Pointing to diesel prices, which have increased at a pace even faster than gasoline, one industry watcher says $4 gasoline will soon be commonplace. "It's a given that we will see $4 at the pump. The question is, will we see $5? If we have so much as a big burp at any refinery in the West this summer, $5 per gallon is likely, at least in California," says independent oil analyst Tim Hamilton.

OK, so if I buy fuel for my car (16.5 gallons usually), and the price goes up to $5 per gallon from the current outrageous $3.97 I paid today, how long will the $600 from GW Bush last, if only covering the difference? Lets see, increase fuel at $4 per gallon, and now add another $1, thats 16.5 dollars per fillup, and i buy a minimum of 4 x a month, thats 66 dollars, wow I can cover the increase for almost 9.1 months...