- Today, most of us in Bloomington-Normal are paying $4.16 a gallon.
- One month ago, we were paying $3.59 per gallon
- In early March, gas was at $3.08. One week before Christmas, we were paying $2.91 and in October, the price was $2.72.
- We've heard some analysts say the prices traditionally spike just before Memorial Day. Not true! Last summer, the highest prices were $3.40 in early May, and we gradually declined for several weeks before going back to $3.30 before Independence Day. In the summers of 2006, 2005 and 2003, gas peaked in August. Only in 2004 dig gas peak (at $2.10) just before Memorial Day.
- In November of 2006, gas dipped to $2.00 a gallon. In December of 2004, we were at $1.71. For Memorial Day 2003, we were filling up at $1.50 a gallon. And remember, we thought that was expensive at the time.
- The price of a barrel of oil is at about $130. One year ago, it was $65.
I talked with one of the founders of gasbuddy.com yesterday, and he had some good advice. If you see a station that regularly spikes before everyone else (or, for that matter, is slow to come down when the price falls) stop going there. If enough of us do, it should make a difference eventually.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Oh...in the past, I've heard people criticize auto racing for ripping through fuel at times like this, but you can't blame the Indianapolis 500 or Indy Car Racing. They're using 100% ethanol after switching from methanol last year. And Indy Cars haven't used gasoline for more than 40 years!
