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 7:01PM
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You mean we dont have to go into Mexico to buy Gas anymore?

 

This has been going on since I was a Kid Gas dropping right before election time.. If you think the President doesnt have some kind of influence on this, I have some money trees to sell you.

Oct 24, 2012 7:00PM
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When in Tulsa on 10/20/12, noticed that gas prices for regular in most stations was 3.09 and some were lower and some higher.  Seems that most of the county is getting ripped off..

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 6:58PM
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Getting really tired of the Obummer spin on MSNBC, can't wait to have a new president.
Oct 24, 2012 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 6:55PM
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Well, Remember Obama said that the reason gas prices were lower under Bush is that we were near an economic collapse, which means we should be way out of our economic problems.  And since gas is now getting lower, that means the economy is getting worse again!  At least according to him.  Wow.
Oct 24, 2012 6:55PM
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Its not plummeting...It is still too damn high!!

 

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 6:53PM
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 Prices dropped at the end of Bushs term when the economy here and around the world collapsed. Gas consumption dropped 12% in the U.S with 6 million losing their jobs. Hopefully a Bush cure for high gas prices never again occurs.
Oct 24, 2012 6:53PM
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Get gasoline to $2 a gallon. Convict the speculators.4 years of stability. Build 3 modern refineries. The US economy will be great.
Oct 24, 2012 6:52PM
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First off, why can't the president simply refuse to let other countries' tankers fly our flag going through the gulf unless the Saudis give us special pricing?  After the Somali pirates capture a few of these foreign tankers, other hostile nations blow up a few more, and no one but us is getting oil I'm thinking we can reach an agreement.

Secondly, both Obama and Romney are essentially saying that if their plan improves the economy rising gas prices will consume most gains realized by workers.

Who thinks either of these clowns has the resume to represent us in national and global politics?

Oct 24, 2012 6:51PM
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Venezuala's Socialist gasoline = 25 Cents per gallon in US currency.

Suddenly feeling ripped-off by capitalism?

For-profit American gasoline kills our birth rates by making everything expensive.

Google, America's current record low birthrates.

Koch Oil and other oil monopolies are killing us by making our lives unaffordable.

Record low birth rates are the proof.

Oct 24, 2012 6:51PM
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Thats some BS our went up 15 cents since last sunday
Oct 24, 2012 6:50PM
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  Presidents have nothing to do with prices. Prices hit the highest in history in June, 2008 under Bush averaging over $4 a gallon and dropped to $1.80 five months later under the same president when our economy collapsed and consumption plummeted. High prices are actually a good indicator of the economy. When prices are falling look out.
Oct 24, 2012 6:49PM
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I have  a chevy volt. Bought it 7 weeks ago. Still have 1/3 of the original 8 gallon tank of gas. Costs about a dollar to drive 30+ miles to work and back daily. I feel so bad for all you dinosaur juice commuters. When will you learn?
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 6:47PM
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It's still 2 F-ing dollars higher than before this MORON took
 office. WTF!! Why are the lapdogs in the media celebrating for. I guess anything that they think will make oblamer look good. BullSH#@!!

Oct 24, 2012 6:47PM
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This is a very humilating comment for them to think the American public thinks gas prices are plummeting. With everything at such a high price, wages are down with not many raises and unemployment still too high. Do they really think we are that stupid? This is just a political ploy to help the election sway toward Obama. I mean I will vote for him just to pick the lesser of the two evils that we have to choose from.
Oct 24, 2012 6:47PM
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Where is this happening?  I haven't experienced this joy!
Oct 24, 2012 6:46PM
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Like Flavor Flav used to say....... Don't Believe the Hype!!!!!!!!
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