Reader comments
Gas hits new high — $3.47 per gallon

Joe | 3:13 a.m. May 2, 2008

Gas prices are high and guess what? McCain introduces a gas tax holiday! what a horrible idea dreamed up by the oil companies themselves probably. What's next, root beer in the drinking fountains? McCains idea would increase demand of oil thus raising the price even further. When the Holiday is over and there's a rush to the gas stations for that last fill up the demand will raise the price at least another 5 cents on top of that. $4.20 a gallon and Utahs will still vote for McCain.

Ticked in PA | 5:00 a.m. May 2, 2008

Don't complain, gas in my town in PA is $3.65, and the average salary here is much less than in SLC.

I'm confused | 5:41 a.m. May 2, 2008

I'm really confused after reading this article cause I read another article just the other day that said that the Fed. gov. think that the gas and food prices have gone up enough and should start to stablize. So, now this huge increase AGAIN in gas. This is so crazy!! It's to the point where a family needs to decide if they want to eat, or pay the rent. Or put gas in the car or buy their medication. It's just plain idiotic when it gets to the point where you have to make choices like that!

Comments continue below

Indianaguy | 6:09 a.m. May 2, 2008

It is 3.76 in Indiana.

Indy | 6:17 a.m. May 2, 2008

It is $3.76 a gallon in Indiana.

Anonymous | 6:57 a.m. May 2, 2008

Gives new meaning to "Mission Accomplished" doesn't it?

Gretzky | 7:24 a.m. May 2, 2008

3.97 in Los Angeles area.

Is this a story | 7:53 a.m. May 2, 2008

Couldn't the DNews come up with a better headline this morning? We all know how much a gallon of gas costs, including small children. Come on editor types, tell me something I don't know. I suppose tomorrow you can tell us how much movie tickets cost these days. For your Sunday headline please remind us how much it costs to play a round of golf. For the next seven days of headlines feel free to cite commodity price increases: wheat, pork bellies, soybeans, barley, rice, etc. My point is that it must have been a slow newsday for you to roll that headline. I imagine a high school newspaper headline would look similar: SCHOOL LUNCH HITS NEW HIGH - $_______ PER DAY.

Take the bus | 8:04 a.m. May 2, 2008

drive less....

It is really not that hard!

BTW - get rid of your cell phone..

Very easy ways to cut costs

Robber Baron | 8:06 a.m. May 2, 2008

What is the most interesting aspect of the price of oil is that there is no clear cut reason why the price is artificially inflated. Think about it. Last year at this time it was that there weren't enough refineries now it is the weak dollar and market speculation. In the meanwhile we are spending more on fuel, airlines are dropping out of the sky, the economy is suffering because of the effects of oil on costs food and everything else.

In the meanwhile the US is dumping TRILLIONS of dollars and thousands of lives for a war in Iraq that has as much to do with oil as anything else (while Iraq's government is running a surplus.) Additionally the US dumps millions of dollars in subsidies for big oil and farm aid (to prevent the low cost of wheat, corn, soy beans, etc.)

The whole system is messed up but where is the outrage? In order the fix the problem an effort similiar to going to the moon during the 60's. BTW NASA is getting ready to spend trillions to go back then to Mars. At least our priorities are straight. It is time to decide what is important.

Anonymous | 8:24 a.m. May 2, 2008

It's 4.40 in Lee Vining, California.

oil pals | 8:25 a.m. May 2, 2008

It's well-known that Bush and Cheney have pals in the energy business. Condoleeza Rice has an oil tanker named after her.

Don't blame me.

I didn't vote for them.

Pam | 8:30 a.m. May 2, 2008

To "is this a story?" This is news and a lot of people are interested in it. Some of the other prices you mentioned don't continually change like gas so comparing them is silly. If you don't like reading the paper, don't read it. The writer did an excellent job reporting the facts.

Thinkin' Man | 8:38 a.m. May 2, 2008

If the war in Iraq were really about the U.S. getting more oil, wouldn't supplies be higher and prices be lower? Think about it!

Gas prices are high all over the world. It's not a Bush/Cheney problem, or problem with U.S. oil companies. The roots of the problem are weak US dollar, soaring demand in China and India, too few refineries in the US, and OPEC control of most production.

If you want to address the roots of the high prices then strengthen the dollar, produce more US oil, and support construction of more refineries. It ain't rocket science.

Earl | 8:52 a.m. May 2, 2008

One thing you never seem to hear in these "rising prices" stories is the fact that much of the problem is caused by the debasement of the dollar. The federal government (those who need your votes) want you to think it's the fault of foreigners, greedy capitalists, Democrats or Republicans (either, not both), etc., etc. The problem is CAUSED by those very people in Washington, D.C., specifically, the Democrats AND Republicans in congress and the White House, and by the Federal Reserve and the banking system. It's a systemic problem that won't go away until fiat money is made illegal.

O2 | 8:59 a.m. May 2, 2008

Thinkin' Man,

Producing more US oil is not going to solve anything. Demand is way down and oil & gas reserves are at an all-time high. This isn't 1979 - there's no supply shortage. The price of oil is now completely detached from supply & demand. Instead it's being manipulated by speculators, mostly overseas.

You're right about strengthening the dollar. There's two things we could do: 1, stop cutting interest rates. The recession's going to happen eventually anyway, so raise rates and at least get a handle on inflation. 2, the government and US citizens need to stop spending money they don't have.

But none of these things are going to happen anytime soon. The reality is in 5 years, you're either going to need an alternative-fuel car or you'll be riding a bike everywhere. Take my advice & prepare for that day now!

It's Clinton. | 9:15 a.m. May 2, 2008

We currently have refining capacity for 500,000 barrels being constructed today. Hopefully, near SLC so Utahan can enjoy the progress. Another 100,000 will start construction this year.

Write Jeb Bush and ask him to reconsider drilling off Florida.

Thanks for reminding me that you need many sources of news. No one source is ether fair or balanced.

It's debt that has weakened the dollar. Too many dollars chasing fewer goods. Who won't pay for their war? You would rather pay at the pump because of a declining dollar? What will happen to the dollars and oil costs when the petrol dollars ends soon?

Countries currently hold dollars to pay for oil. Image when, they no longer hold dollars but euros.

Blame Carter and Bill Clinton and toss in Reid for good measure.

Headline 2025 | 9:19 a.m. May 2, 2008

Gas reaches all time high - $55 a gallon.

laughing at you | 9:34 a.m. May 2, 2008

Making an item appear hard to get is the oldest trick in the retail book.

The people you conservatives voted into office are laughing at you and you are now their total slaves.

Thinkin' Man | 10:16 a.m. May 2, 2008

Having an additional 1.5 million barrels per day from ANWR would be the same as having another Saudi Arabia-sized supplier to the US for 30 years.

While it wouldn't lower prices significantly, it would add one measure of security to our supply. The most effective approach is to do ALL we can--more efficiency AND increased supply.

By the way, demand for oil is way UP here and abroad--hence greatly increased global competition for supply and higher prices.

all you have | 10:42 a.m. May 2, 2008

to do is come down to SE UTAH and you get a good sense on how things get manipulated...now it will climb to $4 a gallon while in Moab or other places in the four corners area the prices , fluctuate a great deal. so feel lucky you guys have a choice.

San Fran | 11:00 a.m. May 2, 2008

I just paid $4.02 in San Francisco. Everything's more expensive here... but it is still Paradise. :-)

G | 11:33 a.m. May 2, 2008

"Making an item appear hard to get is the oldest trick in the retail book."

So getting oil is easy? Really? I'll let the word out at the next geological society meeting.

If gas is too expensive, don't buy it. Otherwise, I see no reason for it stop going up.

yup... | 11:38 a.m. May 2, 2008

In the state of Maine, gas ranges from 3.62 a gallon to 3.80......

Food prices here are outrageous.....

and the economy is horrible...

ALL much worse than Utah....

what I think | 11:39 a.m. May 2, 2008

I think we should just polish our bikes and buy a helmet. It will save the pocket book and the enviornment at the same time! And then just attach a little carrier on the back to buy the groceries with the money you will save from not buying gas.

O2 | 11:40 a.m. May 2, 2008

Uh, Thinkin' Man, that's not true. U.S. demand for oil is DOWN 7% this year compared to last year (source: NYMEX crude supply study April 08).

Demand is way up in China and India. All the extra drilling in the world won't affect prices here at home - it will simply all be exported to China. China heavily subsidizes oil anyway so the only people who might save money are the Chinese government. But even that's highly unlikely because, as I said before, the price of oil has completely departed from supply & demand fundamentals.

Please spare me the lectures - it's my job to know this stuff.

Anyway, as I said before, this is just the beginning. In 5 years, only the ultra-rich will be able to afford to drive gas-powered cars. Everyone else needs to get into an alternative-fuel vehicle quickly, or get used to riding a bike in the summer heat and winter snow so you can get to work.

Bush is not curious | 12:00 p.m. May 2, 2008

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2008.

Anonymous | 12:02 p.m. May 2, 2008

If all those environmentalists would let us drill in Alaska, we wouldn't be having this problem. Who cares about Alaska?

Escaped Utahn | 12:12 p.m. May 2, 2008

$4.59 in Snowmass Village CO...

hatfield | 12:14 p.m. May 2, 2008

San Fran, I'll gladly pay over $4.00 to live here! At least I only have to fill up once a month or so...BTW gas needs to go up to about $6.00 before people REALLY start to care.

Greedy Republicans | 12:38 p.m. May 2, 2008

To: "Anonymous | 12:02 p.m. May 2, 2008
If all those environmentalists would let us drill in Alaska, we wouldn't be having this problem. Who cares about Alaska?" BTW, most of the Alaskan oil is sold to the Far East, since the oil companies can make more profits. The CEOs at Exxon, Chevron, et. al. don't care about the average American citizen. Remember the Vice Presidents secret energy task force a few years ago, I guess its working for the oil companies.

lower grade | 12:38 p.m. May 2, 2008

hasn't anyone notice that the 15 cents below the national average is inaccurate, the grade given to us here in Utah is 85, many other states have 87 as the lowest grade. With that in mind considering that the average price for a grade increase is 10 cents Utah would only be 5 cents below the national average which is nothing to be happy about

Bruce | 12:41 p.m. May 2, 2008

Gas here in Montana is around 3.50. I still see people buying full size s.u.v.'s and pickups. It's like we, as a society, think we have a god-given right to drive. And if our armed service people and the rest of the world suffer....oh, well.
Anyone considering cutting back to one car...a 4 cylinder...dropping the wife's job....getting a smaller, cheaper to heat/cool home, etc.? Maybe we think we have a god-given right to that stuff too.

G | 12:43 p.m. May 2, 2008

"If all those environmentalists would let us drill in Alaska, we wouldn't be having this problem. Who cares about Alaska?"

ANWR, were it our only source of oil, at about 20 million barrels/day, would last us about 500 days.

This doesn't really matter because the geography of the situation makes it cheaper to ship Alaskan oil to China than to the US mainland.

Too bad alternative fuels don't seem to be happening.

ANWR | 4:29 p.m. May 2, 2008

For the record, the maximum output potential for ANWR is about 900,000 barrels per day, or less than 5% of current US consumption. It would take up to 14 years from the time drilling is authorized for production to peak at that level. It's estimated that the production would begin to taper off after only 4 years of peak production. At maxium output, the impact of ANWR oil would equal about 50 cents per barrel on the world price. I'm paraphrasing directly from the Energy Information Administration / Department of Energy website. I've been to ANWR and it's not the environmental argument that gets me. It's the sheer stupidity of thinking somehow more drilling is the answer. Dependence on foreign sources and being at the mercy of the world market is a fact of life until we make it a priority to need less.

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