How high do you really think gas will get?

**darkchocolate** · 05-25-2008, 06:58 AM

I am wondering how high do you realistically think gas will get? I read posts about $5 and $10 gas and they are theoretically asking, but I am wondering what do you think will realistically happen and how fast will gas prices climb?

Gas may get to $10 a gallon but I can't see it happening in the next couple of years. We may see $6 a gallon this year since some parts of the country are already paying over $4 a gallon of gas. Especially if we have devasting hurricanes that affect our refineries.

Right now in South Carolina I am paying $3.89 a gallon and diesel is $4.65.

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-25-2008, 07:22 AM

I think as long as we are dependant on gas for so much... there is no ceiling.

A couple years ago, gas in UK was $8 gal. That's when we were paying under $3. (Don't know what it is today)

So, realistically... limitless. They have us by the gonaads.

**ConnieD** · 05-25-2008, 08:08 AM

I think as long as we are dependant on gas for so much... there is no ceiling. So, realistically... limitless.

I totally agree! I see the arguement being made about how Europe is so much smaller, and has more mass transit, Americans have to pay their own healthcare, etc....

while this is very true, it really has nothing to do with the arguement about rising gas prices. It's true that because they have these things (mass transit and smaller countries) that people aren't as directly affected as those living in the US (or Canada for that matter).......... the countries selling the gas aren't about to take pity on us because of this and sell it to us cheaper.

Canada's gas is already approx $1 more a US gallon than what the US is paying. Our country is VERY large and no, we don't have the mass transit all over either. While yes, we do have universal healthcare........ we are also taxed WAY higher in all other areas than those in the US. So really, we DO pay for our healthcare as well. We just don't see a direct hospital bill.

.........Anyways, I'm heading off topic. I just really think that there really is no cap on what we can see gas selling at. Hopefully, if it does go that high (ie. $10/gallon) that it's a slow rise over a few years and that will give people the time to get their other financial areas in order. I know we are busting our butts trying to pay off the house (5 more years or hopefully sooner) so we are totally debt free. Trying to stockpile with rising food prices and IMO really hard financial times coming.

In other words......... planning for the worst, hoping for the best and praying!!!

**IntlMom** · 05-25-2008, 08:37 AM

Really, who knows? If you had asked anyone two years ago if gas could ever go over 4.00 a gallom, we probably would have laughed! But realsitcally, I'll take a stab at 8.00 a gallon.....just a wild shot in the dark.

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-25-2008, 08:37 AM

I thought this was interesting article about how the prices are set at the pump.
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_127789.asp

**Dad_of_4** · 05-25-2008, 09:09 AM

Gas prices will go up until one of two things happen. Either supply must increase or demand must be reduced.

On the supply side, congress just voted done exploration in ANWAR and off the coasts. All of the canidates running for president do not believe in drilling for more oil in our country. Some in congress think we should beg OPEC for more output. Why would they do this, demand has not dropped and they are recieving record oil revenue.

On the demand side, while some people have cut back others have not. I saw several people interviewed on Friday by the news. They stated they were still going on vacation, but would be spending less eating out or stay at cheaper hotels. So they have not reduced their consumption. They just shifted their budget to accommodate the increased fuel cost. Until the price gets high enough for reduced demand, prices will continue to rise.

I expect $5.50 will be that number. But who knows.

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 05-25-2008, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Frugal Nurse

I think as long as we are dependant on gas for so much... there is no ceiling.

A couple years ago, gas in UK was $8 gal. That's when we were paying under $3. (Don't know what it is today)

So, realistically... limitless. They have us by the gonaads.

I was talking to this guy from Germany and we did the calculations. As of a couple weeks ago when our gas was actually quite a bit lower than it is now, they were paying the equivalent to $10.57 a gallon.

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 05-25-2008, 09:22 AM

http://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080...vivalists.html

**Marie78** · 05-25-2008, 09:36 AM

I didn't really think we would ever see $5 a gallon here, but the gas station that I have seen the fairest prices at, has reached $3.97 a gallon and I'm sure next week it will cost us even more at the pump! I believe by next week all gas stations in my area will be at $4 and higher for the cheapest gallon of gas you can buy. If the increases keep going up like they have here at 10 cents or more a week we will reach $5 a gallon by the end of summer. By Christmas it could be over $6 a gallon. If there is no cap at some point and the gas increases conintue at a 10 cent increase (at least) each week...it will be up to $8 or $10 a gallon by next year at this time. The only way we wouldn't be paying $8-$10 a gallon next year is for gas prices to level out for awhile.

I don't ever see gas prices going down though, I think $4 will be on the cheap end of what we pay for gasoline. We need better public transportation or more income if we are going to be able to survive when gasoline hits $8-$10 a gallon.

**Darlene** · 05-25-2008, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dad_of_4

Gas prices will go up until one of two things happen. Either supply must increase or demand must be reduced.

On the supply side, congress just voted done exploration in ANWAR and off the coasts. All of the canidates running for president do not believe in drilling for more oil in our country. Some in congress think we should beg OPEC for more output. Why would they do this, demand has not dropped and they are recieving record oil revenue.

On the demand side, while some people have cut back others have not. I saw several people interviewed on Friday by the news. They stated they were still going on vacation, but would be spending less eating out or stay at cheaper hotels. So they have not reduced their consumption. They just shifted their budget to accommodate the increased fuel cost. Until the price gets high enough for reduced demand, prices will continue to rise.

I expect $5.50 will be that number. But who knows.

I feel pretty much the same. Wrote this in another thread but it belongs here too.
My thoughts are that USA needs to explore & build oil refineries here while at the same time heading towards alternatives. Relying on other countries to supply what we need here is not the answer. I am not going to be a happy camper while I cut back and do without & see those many many boat & jet skis on our waterways and on our roads being pulled by gas guzzeling big suv's etc. this summer. No gas powered "toys" used by my family. I know that once in a blue moon is one thing but, we all need to do our part. jmo

Oh, any talk of protests in your area due to high gas prices? There's talk of truckers, car owners, anyone going to the capital and laying on the horns waiting for the govorner to come out and address the crowd. Probably be happening here in Albany NY soon.

**jamie79** · 05-25-2008, 10:14 AM

I think we will see $5 and above very soon.
I agree that we are so dependent that we need other resources and we need to become less dependent.
I try to do everything I can at once so I am not running around needlessly.
It also makes me kind of mad that they are wasting gas on things like Nascar.

**Holly** · 05-25-2008, 10:16 AM

Darlene,
There was a bunch of truckers in Albany last week.
Doug is working at the Sears store there .
Truckers and farmers are being hit so hard, that things are going to be really wild for a while.
JMHO

**coup** · 05-25-2008, 10:39 AM

This year I believe we will see $5 per gallon. I really don't know how high it will go in my lifetime. That's a really scary thought.

I know our next new vehicle purchase will be a hibrid vehicle. This is a few years out yet. Our immediate vehicle purchase will be my company's min-van sometime later this year. It has low miles and better gas mileage than my Explorer.

And the cost of gas has impacted where we will live in retirement. For the first time in my life I will probably live in the city! But that's many years away yet!

**Darlene** · 05-25-2008, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by jamie79

I think we will see $5 and above very soon.
I agree that we are so dependent that we need other resources and we need to become less dependent.
I try to do everything I can at once so I am not running around needlessly.
It also makes me kind of mad that they are wasting gas on things like Nascar.

I heard they did that too, guess this next one is being organized to make sure the gov will be there for sure.

**halloweenfreak** · 05-25-2008, 01:53 PM

ive heard several radio stations around here saying $7 by the end of the summer. since they were all saying the same thing, i dont know if that number was published somewhere, or they all just guesstimated that number. at that rate, it will cost us 260 dollars to fill up both vehicles. that thought sickens me.