Comments on: Something fishy at the pump? Gas prices tumble everywhere but Utah – Salt Lake Tribune

By: Tyson

Tyson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:17:26 +0000

I would bike if I had a decent route to work. Both for my health and saving some cash on gas.

By: Marion

Marion — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:48:48 +0000

I’ve ditched my second car, and gone back to biking. Maybe more people would do the same if Logan would create a few bike paths. Or heck, I’d even settle for sidewalks. I’m amazed at how many roads around here have nothing more than 2 inches of pavement on the right side of the white line, and then dirt and weeds.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:43:54 +0000

Idaho’s (at least southern Idaho) gas prices are typically a good 10-15 cents higher than Utah’s. I have yet to hear an explanation as to why that’s not the case now.

By: Russel the Love Muscle

Russel the Love Muscle — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:21:38 +0000

I know a few local station owners and the idea that they are “grubbing” is laughable. Retailing gas is probably the most competitive business next to the grocery industry. They’ve been getting pummeled by competition and industry shocks for years now.

So the price temporarily retreats and all the sudden they are grubbing because they want a few extra pennies to make up for the rest of the year’s red ink?

Only amoral mooches balk at the profits made by others in honest labor.

By: Topgun

Topgun — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:58:41 +0000

I have a show suggestion, the gas stations here in town that are lowering their prices the fastest and have the lowest gas prices, I think you should tell us who they are each day, and then encourage all of your listeners to support that gas station. I think that will trigger the free market to work and other stations will lower there prices or maybe even go lower. Especially if they know you are gonna check prices and report the following day or even the same day. They may do it just to get some free advertising. Either way if it lowers gas prices even a little bit here locally we win.

Who knows it might work.

By: Jessica Littlefield

Jessica Littlefield — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:07:27 +0000

I’m with Tyler’s second point. It’s the way of the free market. They know we’ll pay it, so they charge it. Which means they do make record profits.

By: Topgun

Topgun — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:02:01 +0000

We pay higher gas in utah because they think they can get away with it due to a better more robust economy than surrounding states. Mr. Hill and the like are starting to sound like con men, admitting that they are making more money now that oil has dropped and gas hasn’t. I agree with jess on the gas we pay I think consistantly 20 to 30 cents per gallon higher than other states even california, tax aside for the same octane.

By: jess

jess — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:09:16 +0000

i’ve traveled extensively this past July for work – mostly in western states. Gas was significantly cheaper everywhere I went, including Montana, Idaho, Arizona Texas and Oklahoma. Prices were less than 4 dollars a gallon, and probably averaged about $3.79 for 87 octane.

also, let’s not forget that exxon posted RECORD PROFITS yet again this last quarter.

By: David

David — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:34:36 +0000

It seems to me that gas prices in Utah are always late in falling when the national trend is downward, but then again, they are also late in rising when the national trend is upward.

We just have to grumble when the price has not already dropped rather than celebrate the fact that we have a decent idea where the price is going next week.