Gasoline prices on the rise again.

Just a couple of months ago gasoline prices were falling and it looked as though we were headed for an oversupply until Saudi Arabia cut production and demand from China rose unexpectedly.   Gas prices typically rise about this time of the year,  because of refinery maintenance schedules and the switch to a more expensive blend of summer gas. Florida's Gulf Coast refineries are currently operating at less than 85% of capacity.  In December they were over 95%.  Actually, market trends and price fluctuations at the pump have been similar to 2011 and 2012 leading analysts prices will peak in April and then retreat.  In the meantime prices have been rising rapidly for 32 days straight.  The average price is $3.73 a gallon and that is a record for February.  In California gas has peaked at over $5.00 a gallon.

Well, I thought about that, and here's what I think.   The fluctuations  in gas prices are all a big game.  The price of gas goes  up, then it goes down then it goes back up again.  The general trend though is up.   Supplies are up and they're down.  The refineries are having maintenance done.   As far as I'm concerned these are all excuses.  The suppliers are making plenty of money at everyone else's expense.   No one is interested in solving the problem.  They're making too much money.

I believe there is a silver lining in this cloud.   We will gradually and eventually reduce our dependence  on fossil fuels.   A lot has already been done.  Cars are much more efficient.  We are improving our use of alternate fuel supplies.  We have more and more hybirds and electric vehicles.  This needs to continue.  If the price of gas went down it would not.   During the 1970's we experienced shortages of gas and the price started to rise.   We began to want smaller and more efficient vehicles.  Then as time went by there were no more lines at the gas pumps and we went back to wanting big vehicles.   I think we hit the top with the Hummer.   Now  we are forced to go back to smaller vehicles.  I think this is a good thing. 

In the meantime I think we should look for ways to conserve gas and work towards getting the most efficient vehicle we can.  Europeans have been driving smaller cars for years.