Gas prices dropping sharply

They recently saw their biggest weekly drop since 2008, according to AAA.

By Kim Peterson Oct 24, 2012 6:11PM
The price of gas is plummeting and is likely to fall even lower by Thanksgiving, experts say.

The national average for a gallon of gas was $3.63 Wednesday, down 2 cents from the day before and 10 cents from a week earlier.

The more impressive drop came on Monday, when the price had fallen 12 cents in a week to $3.67. That was the biggest weekly drop since 2008, according to AAA's daily fuel gauge report.
President Barack Obama may find reason to celebrate. AAA thinks the average price per gallon will fall to between $3.40 and $3.50 when voters head to the polls on Nov. 6. By Thanksgiving, prices could fall even more, to between $3.25 and $3.40.

Is Obama pulling the strings behind the price drop? Probably not the Los Angeles Times writes. Crude oil is a global commodity, and the markets have much more influence on the price than the commander in chief. "Indeed, there seem to be very few tools in the presidential woodshed that can hammer down gas prices with any predictability or long-lasting effect," Ken Bensinger writes. "But presidents are almost always put on a very public hook when gas prices are judged to be high."Filling fuel tank - Corbis

So what's the reason for the price drop? Falling oil prices and more supply as refineries are coming back online. In addition, refiners are using cheaper winter blends, according to The Associated Press. And people are starting to drive less this time of year.

Still, the AP notes, gas remains very expensive, more so than it's ever been at this time of year. Last year, for example, gas was $3.46 per gallon at the same time.

And though we all may breathe a little easier at the pump, the falling price of gas is still alarming because it reflects broad concerns about the state of the world's economy.

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750Comments
Oct 24, 2012 6:36PM
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Wow, I should be jumping for joy right now, but I think I'll save that when prices are under $2 again!
Oct 24, 2012 6:55PM
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Its not plummeting...It is still too damn high!!

 

Oct 24, 2012 6:56PM
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Wow, that big of a drop? Whew, thanks for warning us, otherwise no one would have noticed. I guess no one was selling lemonaid today and this story made it to the headlines.

Are you people at MSN kidding me? in the begining of 2009 and late in 2008 the national price of gas was $1.84 per gallon.

Tell the real story of why a 100% jump in gasoline price is reasonable when refining costs stayed the same and the inflation adjusted price of oil is less now in 2012 than late 2008 early 2009.

Oct 24, 2012 6:37PM
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Gas prices are plummeting, so by next week I can afford to drive the 4 miles to the closest store, to buy groceries. I have been living on canned food that I bought when Bush was still President and gas cost $ 1.85 a gallon
Oct 24, 2012 6:42PM
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Total BS !  Here in California (Democrat stronghold) Reg. is $4.59, up .5 cent since last thursday. What a line of pure crap.

Oct 24, 2012 6:45PM
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Hey yeah, just like a rock.   Now in CA we are down to about $4.36 a gallon after some

of the big firms went over $5 and heading towards $.   Pure manipulation.  I guess if

they call this a plummet, we can just refer to it as a little vaseline as we are still getting

screwed.

Oct 24, 2012 6:32PM
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That's because Obama and his puppet masters need for people to feel good about him, so, hopefully, he'll get their vote.

And gas prices aren't "plummeting". They're dropping a few cents at a time as usual.

Keep spreading gold flakes over the media propaganda. Doesn't make it any less putrid bullsh*t that it is.

Oct 24, 2012 7:02PM
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Don't worry the prices will be go up again.  They are just playing with us.  The oil companies made record profits so it's time to show some charity to the common folk by lowering prices.  Big oil runs a a crooked monopoly, they are allowed to manipulate prices, supply and ship most of it overseas.  The economists tells us that their is record oil production occuring in this country.  If that is the case, then why isn't gas dropping below $2.00 a gallon?  Big oil has this nation with a rope around it's neck.  Anytime they want to jerk us around they just pull on that rope!

Oct 24, 2012 6:54PM
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Define plummeting...Nevada gas has NOT dropped at all, what a crock of bull. Is MSNBC spinning for Obummer again?
Oct 24, 2012 6:41PM
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Its seem clear to me that we have been taken to the cleaners by big oil. Record profits, record prices. Gee the next time someone hick-ups will see prices skyrocket over $6.00 a gallon and if were lucky they'll "plummet to $5.999".  Boy oh Boy THANK YOU TEXACO!  
Oct 24, 2012 6:58PM
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Getting really tired of the Obummer spin on MSNBC, can't wait to have a new president.
Oct 24, 2012 7:03PM
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Crude oil is a global commodity and not one is more easily manipulated by investors and oil companies.  Someone farts in Iran and the price of crude shoots up.  The fact that this is a commodity that is allowed to be priced on the futures market where speculators can drive up the price at will is tantamount to fraud.  This is one commodity that should be prohibited  from being bought and solt on the futures market.  The futures market has no bearing on current supply and demand.  And no president has the ability to do a damn thing about it. So no president can take credit for gas prices coming down nor should they be blamed for prices going up.  They have zero to do with it.
Oct 24, 2012 6:46PM
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Like Flavor Flav used to say....... Don't Believe the Hype!!!!!!!!
Oct 24, 2012 6:36PM
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are you ignorant or think people who buy gas are, obama your welfare momma could have written this headline himself, gas drops 3 cents and that is plunging, I guess when it shot up from 3.59 to 3.89 that should have had a headline of gas prices take a meteoric increase, but since you are in monkeyboys pocket I didn't see that headline, well after nov 6th you will have to find someone else's **** to kiss
Oct 24, 2012 6:31PM
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I wouldn't say the prices are plummeting. They are coming down very slowly though. Maybe by New Years they will be down to $3.40. Right now it does not look like it.
Oct 24, 2012 6:47PM
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Where is this happening?  I haven't experienced this joy!
Oct 24, 2012 6:48PM
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HA, how convenient for the election....of course they drop! Remember when George Bush left office? Gas dropped below $2.00!!!
Oct 24, 2012 6:59PM
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...and right after the election they will be right back where they were last week if Obama get's re-elected.  Gas prices will never go down to what they were when he took office. He has pretty much said that energy prices will be going up. He wants them to go up. He didn't approve the entire Keystone pipeline, coal plants are being regulated out of business. He has said these things out loud! When will people start believing him?  He does NOT have Americans best interest at heart.  We need to show him exactly what we think of him in 2 weeks by voting him out! Besides who wants a president when Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and Putin of Russia are backing him. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know?

Oct 24, 2012 6:51PM
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Thats some BS our went up 15 cents since last sunday
Oct 24, 2012 7:03PM
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Who write these ridiculous articles? Prices plummeting? Our prices are down a few cents and are still way high compared to the price of oil...What does the news media  stand for anymore but just a bunch of Liberal bunk!
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