It's public record. Right around 9%

I used to work in a related industry.

Probably.

22,583.

Have I said that increasing gasoline prices won't have an influence on other items? What am I wrong about?

Here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102702399.html

Most financial institutions, such as commercial banks, are routinely more profitable than Exxon Mobil was in its third quarter. For example, Exxon Mobil's gross margin of 9.8 cents of profit for every dollar of revenue pales in comparison to Citigroup Inc.'s 15.7 cents in 2004. By percentage of total revenue, banking is consistently the most profitable industry in America, followed closely by the drug industry.

Maybe its the way you come across...

I'm a conservative but the trend at the pumps is seriously starting to question my belief in our governments policies...

I did not see where you mentioned prices won't have influence on other items...you just have to forgive me on that one.

I simply don't become emotional very easily, especially on this subject. That may strike some as, well, I don't know what.

I just try to answer questions that people have about the industry. That's all.

So why is it the consumers fault the idiots that run Exxon weren't smart enought to get when they're profits sucked so bad for so long....

It's no different then me raising my fee's for servicing a loan when the company next door makes more building window frames.

Apples and Oranges...IMO

Sorry, but I don't know what you are asking.

You should run for president...

I don't know why you're confused....

This sentence didn't make any sense to me: "So why is it the consumers fault the idiots that run Exxon weren't smart enought to get when they're profits sucked so bad for so long...."

Does it make sense to you?

Gasoline prices could hit record this month: AAA

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline prices could hit an all-time high by the end of this month due to ongoing problems at the nation's oil refineries, automobile and travel group AAA said on Wednesday.

Gasoline prices have surged 30 cents since early April to $2.97 a gallon on average, bringing them within a dime of the record struck after Hurricane Katrina shut down refineries along the Gulf Coast in 2005.

"The nationwide average price of self-serve regular will probably hit $3 per gallon in the next few days, and could possibly set a new all-time record high price before the end of the month," AAA said.

Gasoline stockpiles in the United States have dropped by 15 percent since early February amid an unusually high number of refinery outages, alongside robust demand and low imports.

AAA said it was "alarming" that gasoline prices were rising so high without the backdrop of a major geopolitical or natural event to disrupt supply, like a hurricane or a new military flare-up in the Middle East.

"Because oil prices today are at least $10 less expensive per barrel than when gasoline prices previously exceeded $3 per gallon, almost all of the price pressure on gasoline can now be attributed to America's continuing -- and increasing -- inability to supply enough refined gasoline to the marketplace," AAA said.

The U.S. government said earlier this week that gasoline prices could hit a record this summer.

So gas is less expensive per barrel today than when it was 3 bucks a gallon. But in the span of a year, our demand has risen so sharply that gas companies have no choice but to raise prices? I have no idea on how to refute that, but I'm not sure I buy that.

I think they're dicking around at the refineries to drive up prices.

I'm getting really, really tired of the constant barage of excuses of reasons the prices keep rising for things that "might" happen.

"We're converting to heating oil"..."We're making #1 diesel for winter" "We're converting away from heating oil" "someone in Nicaragua farted on an oil field"....

No.

Crude oil is $10 less expensive per barrel than it was when gasoline was last at $3 per gallon. That means that gasoline shouldn't be near $3 per gallon now, right?

Wrong.

Refineries are operating at ~88% capacity right now. The last time gasoline was near $3/gallon, they were operating at near 100% In other words, the present high price of gasoline has more to do with refining capacity (or lack thereof) than it does with the price of crude.

......Then Build some effing refineries.

I really wish the Govt would step in and build a couple of large refineries on retired military bases....and use the profit to reduce debt and tax burden on poorer Americans...or fix schools or roads....or Military equipment

Refineries here, or refineries worldwide?

See, I'm not sure what all is the reason gas has risen so sharply. First, it was the whole Iraq ordeal. Then, it was the hurricanes. Then, it was China and Indonesia and their consumption rates. Then, it was the threat of Iran doing something stupid. Now, OUR refineries aren't being used at full capacity. I count two of those five reasons being domestic problems.

I call bullshit. Have they given a plausible reason as to why our refineries are operating at a reduced capacity?

It would help. President Bush proposed doing just that. I don't know what happened to it, to be honest.