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Why Do Gas Prices Seem So “Sticky” Right Now?

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May 20, 2025, 08:18 AM
PASig
Why Do Gas Prices Seem So “Sticky” Right Now?
Just passed a gas station here this morning on my way to my son’s birthday breakfast at Shady Maple and it’s $3.39 a gallon Confused

Looked up the price of oil and it’s now down to around $62 a barrel.

My question is why do gas prices seem so sticky right now? It seems like they would drop more in the past when oil move lower.


May 20, 2025, 08:41 AM
PghPI
Living in PA as well, our gas taxes per gallon are so ridiculous that I am doubtful of ever seeing sub-$3.00/gal ever again. When I run down to Morgantown WV it is an immediate 40-50c drop in per gallon price.
May 20, 2025, 08:42 AM
rduckwor
Damn good question! The oil companies will have some excuse like "changeover to summer formula gas at the refineries".

RMD




TL Davis: “The Second Amendment is special, not because it protects guns, but because its violation signals a government with the intention to oppress its people…”
Remember: After the first one, the rest are free.
May 20, 2025, 08:48 AM
RogueJSK
We're heading into the summer travel season, where gas demand jumps quite a bit.

They want to get their profits while they can.
May 20, 2025, 09:08 AM
chellim1
quote:
Why Do Gas Prices Seem So “Sticky” Right Now?

It has been pretty “Sticky” here, just under $3/gallon.



"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor
May 20, 2025, 09:16 AM
PASig
They have been sticky here right in the $3.20-.30 range for months and months.

I don’t get it because back when it was the weeks before the election I’m pretty certain oil was like $90 a barrel yet the prices were below $3.20. They were headed to under $3


May 20, 2025, 09:19 AM
HRK
$2.95 to $3.10 range, get to Costco, Sams any club and it's #2.71
May 20, 2025, 09:19 AM
jljones
Remember the “experts” opinion n this. Gas prices are never manipulated. You’re just too stupid to understand why you are paying more than you should be.




www.opspectraining.com

"It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it works out for them"



May 20, 2025, 09:37 AM
P250UA5
Was 2.59 for 87 on Saturday at the HEB where I usually top up.
Went back for groceries on Sunday & it was down to 2.47 for 87

With the large tank on our Expedition, I've been glad it's held under $3/gal around here.
I've been upping to 89 or 93 [price depending] in the Mini. I was 3.37 for 93 Sunday at the same station.




The Enemy's gate is down.
May 20, 2025, 09:47 AM
Expert308
"Because we can, that's why."

When oil prices drop, gas prices stay right where they were. It takes months, sometimes years, for gas to drop a bit, although never back to where it was before the previous round of increases, and and the oil companies get a windfall.

Then some Saudi prince gets a nosebleed and gas prices instantly shoot up because "risk" and the oil companies get a windfall.

Rinse and repeat.
May 20, 2025, 09:58 AM
12131
quote:
Originally posted by jljones:
Remember the “experts” opinion n this. Gas prices are never manipulated. You’re just too stupid to understand why you are paying more than you should be.


quote:
Originally posted by Expert308:
"Because we can, that's why."

When oil prices drop, gas prices stay right where they were. It takes months, sometimes years, for gas to drop a bit, although never back to where it was before the previous round of increases, and and the oil companies get a windfall.

Then some Saudi prince gets a nosebleed and gas prices instantly shoot up because "risk" and the oil companies get a windfall.

Rinse and repeat.

QFT, afaic.


Q






May 20, 2025, 10:26 AM
smschulz
$2.49 ~ $2.59 here.

Been $2.59 for a while and just recently saw a drop .
May 20, 2025, 11:22 AM
YooperSigs
Running anywhere from $3.05 to $3.20 here in the Yoop and this has been the prices for several months now.


End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
May 20, 2025, 11:25 AM
Snapping Twig
Gas is $5.00/gal for 87 here in the SF Bay Area, sometimes more.
Newscum is really Trump proofing California.
May 20, 2025, 11:26 AM
BigSwede
Since Jan. $78 for crude down to $62 now. No difference at the pump



May 20, 2025, 11:32 AM
Broadside
quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
Just passed a gas station here this morning on my way to my son’s birthday breakfast at Shady Maple and it’s $3.39 a gallon Confused

Looked up the price of oil and it’s now down to around $62 a barrel.

My question is why do gas prices seem so sticky right now? It seems like they would drop more in the past when oil move lower.


PASig, I don't know where specifically you are. But my understanding from relatives who live in Central PA is that Sheetz controls the price of gas on the Central PA area. Other gas stations have no reason to undercut Sheetz so they don't.
May 20, 2025, 08:28 PM
Bassamatic
We've been right around $2.74 for some time now.



.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress.
May 20, 2025, 09:00 PM
ranger312
Promises Made, Promises Kept: Memorial Day Set For Lowest Gas Prices in Over 20 Years

Americans celebrating Memorial Day by hitting the road will likely be paying the cheapest gas prices since 2003.

GasBuddy, a fuel savings platform, said Tuesday that it forecasts the national average price of gasoline to be $3.08 per gallon on Memorial Day. That would make it the cheapest since 2021 in nominal terms. After adjusting for inflation, it would be the lowest since 2003.

This is not expected to be short-lived. Prices of gasoline are expected to average around $3.02 per gallon between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with prices falling below three dollars on some days.

That’s likely to bring cheer to the 69 percent of Americans who plan on taking a road trip this summer.

“American road trip culture remains resilient,” GasBuddy said in a news release announcing their 2025 Summer Travel Survey.

Last summer, the national average price of gasoline was $3.58 per gallon on Memorial Day. This year’s lower price reflects increased oil production that has lowered crude oil prices. A barrel of Brent Crude, the global standard for oil prices, is currently priced at $65.07, down significantly from the $83.71 a year ago.
May 21, 2025, 05:33 PM
Edmond
Paid $2.78 for regular at Costco yesterday, I prefer their gas as it's top tier and typically significantly cheaper than other stations.

All other stations were still at $3.19 for regular. Filled up my car and two 5 gallon cans so I don't have to go back to Costco for another 2 weeks.


_____________

May 21, 2025, 05:37 PM
DanH
The Northland went from $2.80 for 87 to $2.99. It's annoying, but not a major jump and it's been mostly stable for the whole year.