Why is gas so expensive?

Answer 1

Believe it or not, it's supply & demand. Same as corn, soybeans or cotton.

Answer 2

Where is it so expensive?

I'm assuming you're American. Gas was cheap in the U.S., but now it's on par with prices in other countries. It's not expensive, you were just used to unnaturally cheap prices.

If you think about how destructive gas is to the environment, it's still cheap. It should be a lot more expensive so that less people use it, so that our air, trees, and even front lawn and gardens stay healthy for our children and grandchildren.

Instead of spending all this money on a pointless war, the same amount of money ought to be going towards clean air fuel alternatives. The money could also go to discounting the price of hybrid cars, so that the average person can afford to buy one and not complain so much about the price of gas because they won't be using as much.

It doesn't help when you go to war with countries that are sources of oil and gas, or when you ignore natural disasters that damage your domestic supplies.

Answer 3

Lots of reasons. Here are a few.
Gasoline comes from oil. Oil is expensive per barrel now.
Each major city has its own gas formula. They don't just make all the same anymore, adding to the cost.
Cost of transporting the gas to the stations.
Insurance
Cost of refineries.
Cost to build new refineries. (None have been built in the past 25 years!)

Answer 4

gas isn't expensive. When gas was $.50 a gallon, a new car was around $2400 and bread was around a quarter. You do the math. Historically in real dollars, gas prices have been level for decades.

Answer 5

Somebody has to pay for the expensive cars and private schools the "kids" are entitled to. And the million dollar summer houses the friends stay at 2 weekends a year.

Answer 6

Gasoline, one of the main products refined from crude oil, accounts for just about 17 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. The primary use for gasoline is in automobiles and light trucks. Gasoline also fuels boats, recreational vehicles, and various farm and other equipment. While gasoline is produced year-round, extra volumes are made in time for the summer driving season. Gasoline is delivered from oil refineries mainly through pipelines to a massive distribution chain serving 168,987 retail gasoline stations throughout the United States.1 There are three main grades of gasoline: regular, mid-grade, and premium. Each grade has a different octane level. Price levels vary by grade, but the price differential between grades is generally constant.

Answer 7

Great question !!there are three major factors which drive up gas prices. The first factor,is , "The high demand coming from India and China in recent years. This would be the first one that would account for the high crude oil price, leading up to the high gas price."

Answer 8

Try heating with oil. It is treble the price of gas. 5 liters costs me £156 for 2 months usage.

Answer 9

gas is very cheap. Everyone can gas and gas they do - from talkshow hosts to trailer trash - everyone is just gassin' along, and if it ain't one end it's the other. Poorly thought-out opinions and methane are ruining the planet, people! stop gassing! As far as petroleum goes, well, if everyone stopped driving vast vehicles to cart their vast obese bodies around in to their vast overheated homes then maybe oil products would be cheaper.

Answer 10

In many countries, the gasoline is over $5 per gallon.

Here in the US, it just seems expensive because many drive vehicles that are not fuel efficient.

Answer 11

Because they can get away with it. When will we revolt? Like the French peasants, during the revolution? When Marie Antoinette said' "let them eat cake", and they chopped off her head on the guillotine! If Bush says, "Let them drive Ferrari's" I say we go for his throat!