Is there any correlation between gas prices and elections?

Question

The elections are over. Some predicted gas prices would go down a month before the elections and then would go back up after.

OPEC expects demand for crude oil to decline by 800,000 barrels per day and may cut its daily output of 30 million barrels by 1.5 million barrels. Still, most experts say prices will continue to fall as crude oil declines, from around $78 to less than $64 a barrel in two months. That translates into a 35 cent a gallon drop at the pump. My prediction: In February, we'll find gas for as low as $2.50 a gallon. MERCURY NEWS. Let's see if this pans out.

Answer 1

Market forces my behind. The price of crude is still dropping while the price of gas is creeping up again. Are people really trying to say the price of gas dropped seventy five cents after labor day because the summer driving season ended? Get real. The oil industry is globally manipulated and further down the chain manipulated by everyone who can manipulate it. Every oil company dumps their gas into a common pipeline and then pulls it out somewhere else along that pipeline. Exxon-Mobil, Citgo, Chevron...it's all the same gasoline. They each add some ingredients to try to distinguish themselves from one another with whatever they claim their gas does to enhance your engines performance. Think there's no manipulation? What happened to the oil shortage from thirty five years ago?

Answer 2

The only correlation between gas prices and elections is that the campaign season really gets started full speed after Labor Day, which also happens to be the end of the summer traveling season, so demand goes down. When demand goes down, prices go down.

Shortly after the election is when the home heating season starts and demand for crude oil goes up. When demand goes up, prices go up. It is also the time when gas stations switch to the winter blend of gas, and that costs more to produce.

Anyone that tells you that the U.S. politicians control the global price of crude oil are just wacko conspiracy theorist. They will also try to sell you shares in the Brooklyn Bridge.

Answer 3

The gas prices have already started back up. The day after the election the price went up 7cents over nite. the answer is yes I think the gas prices have been kept artifically low to try and manipulate the election. This gov. and the oil companies work hand in hand.

Answer 4

Some people also projected that the non-hurricane season (no gasoline producing plants interrupted) coupled with light usage would result in an increase in the amount of gasoline available at lower prices.

So lets see...Market forces control gas prices or George Bush ...

Sorry...It's market forces controlling gas prices.

But it's nutty liberals making silly accusations that make for questions like this one.

Answer 5

whilst it comprises oil and gasoline costs, inner American politics have little result. (international is yet another tale). at the beginning if look back on the oil costs by way of the years, you will locate that the value of oil falls maximum autumns. that's regularly because of the fall of call for after the summer season is over. the fall additionally coincides with elections. The question right this is, “do oil costs drop in the fall simply by elections or simply by shrink in call for for oil that occurs each and each fall?” yet another element is that u . s . isn't the only united states of america in the international. at a similar time as the speedy boost in the oil has to due with American strikes in the middle East in the process the previous few years, yet another sturdy stress is at play: India and China. The Indian and chinese language economies have been transforming into at astronomical costs in the process the final 2 an prolonged time. the upward thrust value of the economies those 2 international locations that carry over 2 billion people, have a brilliant result on the value of oil. lots better than anybody oil corporation does. at a similar time as politics performs a function in value of oil, i come across it problematic to have faith that companies quite care who's in capability. the businesses will sell a similar quantity of oil in US companion and infants markets inspite of who's in capability. at situations this is extremely perplexing to verify what precisely what's inflicting a transformation in the oil value, those are some questions that would desire to bring about useful know-how of what's occurring. who're the main significant oil manufacturers? you're able to desire to be stunned to verify Norway and Canada in this checklist. what's occurring the companion and infants industry of those economies? Are they attempting to socialise the oil materials, is there a conflict, organic catastrophe ect? what's occurring in the companion and infants markets of India, and China? what number oil refineries are there? a attainable rationalization for the drop in oil costs is that the Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans is convalescing form the hurricane? Then after all this that's recommended to inspect the behavoiur of the yank customer? Are they driving much less, figuring out to purchase greater gasoline useful autos? (i think of that's not likely) Then perhaps on the backside of the checklist you are able to inspect election in the U. S..

Answer 6

There are too many traders and influencing factors to be that correlated to the elections. It would have to take some serious collusion/conspiracy work to manipulate that way.

There are seasonal factors that take place around the elections.
There are global factors that have influenced prices etc.
This (and last) year in particular, there was alot of speculation going on with traders and several global factors - Katrina, Nigeria, Iraq, Iran, etc. etc.

Answer 7

Yeah, its pretty obvious. It was especially obvious when Bush was up for re-election a couple years ago. Their goal is to make people happier with the government as it is...i.e. "they're not so bad, see gas prices are even going down..." and re-elect those in power. Its a load of crap, we all know that the entire Bush family are bedfellows with the leaders of the countries where oil is produced. We might as well have elected the CEO of Exxon or Shell into office.

Answer 8

The so-called analysts will tell you that gas prices were not manipulated and that the timely fluctuation is merely a result of supply and demand; a fortuitous coincidence. But if you believe this load of crap, I'd like to sell you some shares in the Brooklyn Bridge.

Answer 9

If I were you, I'd fill my tank NOW while the price is still low. Not that it helped the GOP much...

Answer 10

It is true, all though nothing new. It's happened before.