Gas Price Gouging in Akron Ohio

[gcmsguru]

I'm leaving tomorrow for a trip from Akron Ohio to Fort Pierce Florida and used the GasBuddy Trip Cost Calculator today to estimate the gas cost for the round trip.

It was astounding and annoying to discover that gas prices drop a lot after leaving the Akron area. For example: the price of gas near where I live was $3.89 for regular this morning. According to GasBuddy, it's $3.25 in Bastian VA, $3.06 in Rock Hill SC, and $3.22 in Richmond Hill GA.

In fact, according to GasBuddy, gas prices are 35 cents a gallon just twenty miles due south of here...

This is all truly disgusting: the economy in northern Ohio is a disaster. There are few decent jobs here now, home foreclosures all over the place, and homeless people begging on street corners.

Given all this, why are gas prices nearly a dollar a gallon more here than they are 500 miles south? That's a question I'd really know the answer to...

[MMUK]

You should try the prices here instead. Around $8.50/usGallon.

[Draigflag]

I was going to say, most of us dream of fuel that cheap, be grateful!

[lkalliance]

I'm in Minnesota and gas is pushing $4.30 a gallon right now, the highest in the country. That's normally not the case, but it's due to refinery issues locally: as I understand it there are a couple of Midwest refineries that have broken down, limiting supply. Right now in the Midwest you'll find really high gas prices because of that.

[bates]

Are you considering gas from out of state in your comparisons? Last weekend the wife and I took a trip across state lines, I'm well aware of the extra taxes on gasoline in CA, especially in the southern California AQMD so I always make a point of filling up when I'm in Arizona or Nevada. Gas was nearly a dollar a gallon cheaper in AZ due to relaxed AQMD additive requirements and taxes.

[lkalliance]

I've gotten used to having lower prices in the midwest, after living in California and Washington for thirty years. I had assumed that since we were (are, darn it) hovering around $4.30, that the West Coast must be pushing $4.50 to $4.60.

*puts on gray wig and pulls pants further up*

Why, I remember when gas first hit a dollar a gallon and we all thought that was crazy!

[Draigflag]

It's interesting how the government has us under thier thumb, and just how much fuel prices affect the economy. Just recently, our fuel was reduced slightly to around $8.50 a gallon, still hideously expensive but because we are used to high prices, we consider it cheap! As a result, more people went out and about in the UK spending money.

I just wish the government would drop it dramatically for a few months, it would help kick start so many things! Most households can't afford to.fill thier tank anymore and instead just put 2 or 3 gallons in.

[WalterPJ]

Oh my gosh, you should know why! Obama wants to keep YOUR gas prices high! This is the new world order and you have to pay! You working stiffs have to take care of us guys sitting on the couch and smoking dope. You know the way Obama did in high school and college. Keeping voting those democrats back in and it will only get worse. As Margaret said: Socialism is great until you run out of other peoples money!

[ppointer]

I just got back from Wisconsin, where I paid 4.25 per gallon for mid-grade.

[JDaugherty]

You can't really compare Akron, OH to Bastian, VA because they have totally different economies.

I lived in Roanoke VA (near Bastian) for a few years and I can tell you the average income level is far less than Akron so the cost of living is much less as well.

Not to mention VA is physically closer to the Gulf than OH, and since most of our oil comes from South America, places closer to the refineries in the Gulf will be cheaper.