There are still places near me where it's over $4 a gallon. Which is just pure thievery at this point.

Still $4.199 here. Pure thievery is right. :shake:

If you are referring to the taxes that are factored in to make it that price, yes, I can see that

I had a friend tell me that gas prices can be affected by the president. He said that's why they always go down during election years. I argued against it because that's what I've been told. Whats the correct answer?

The POTUS (any POTUS) can do very, very little to influence gas prices. The price of gasoline is directly related to the price of crude, and POTUS can do very little to influence that.

Here are just a few examples:

1) Release and sell crude from the SPR. This increases the total amount of crude available (increases supply), which leads to reduced prices. But, only a nickel or so less from your wallet. The SPR has also never been released by any POTUS just to lower pricing, but in reaction to a supply disruption.

2) Along with congress, POTUS could suspend the federal tax on gas, which I believe is $0.18 or so per gallon. I believe this has been done before.

3) Start a war.

So you're quite convinced that the oil companies and station owners aren't just upping their profit margins since they know their customers have no choice but to pay whatever they charge?

Yes, I am quite convinced of that. Chicago has one of the highest taxation rates of gasoline than any other city (and state and local) in the country. That's why your gasoline is always higher than the national average.

3.21 here bitches

Oh, I'm aware of that. However, I find it laughable that you believe nobody else is to blame.

I don't know why you think it's laughable. The math is rather obvious. Illinois drivers pay about $0.30 per gallon more in tax that "normal" states do. And that's just additional tax. You also have a rather exotic fuel blend that is more expensive.

Crude down today, now at $88.34 ($2.42 or 2.67%). Gasoline at $3.64

Seems gas prices are affected by:
Taxes
Regulations - special fuel blends for different seasons
Price of oil
Distribution costs, lack of refining capacity, again regulations
Demand

None of these in any specific order. Would that about sum it up?

3.61 here in the CO

Gas went up overnight at a local station from $3.41 to $3.46. :shrug:

Yes, and profit of course.

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