Deseret News | Vegas gas prices are 15¢ below Utah's

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Vegas gas prices are 15¢ below Utah's

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who would have thought? | 9:34 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

everyone typically blames Exxon, Chevron and the big oil companies for gouging.....but here all along the real proof comes out where we find the real gougers are Costco, Sam's, Albetsons, Smiths, Maverick, Tesoro, Top Stop and 7-11!

Cheap is Just Not The Same | 9:43 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Gas in Denver is at $3.80 or lower. The sad thing, is how the oil companies have driven up the prices so high for so long we have become acclimated to it all. Than when we see gas below $4 a gallon we think we are getting a deal, when in reality we are still getting robbed. While $3.80 is better than $4.15 it is still in no sense cheap gas.

I am waiting for the day someone makes a solar powered vehicle and the government figures out a way to charge us for the sun! I'm sure they'll find a way.

March on the Capital! | 9:51 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

What would really make a difference is to march on the capitals. Nothing happens in politics until someone lights a HUGE FIRE under them.

Comments continue below

brenden | 9:59 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

gas prices here are high is an understatement. they need to come down and fast. Utah's economy is suffering because of it.

Also, Obama wanting to tax the profits of companies like Exxon is stupid. You think that they won't raise their prices just to keep the same profit levels coming in? The shareholders love the return on their investment and they won't give that up. They'll vote to raise prices hire wich means we'll pay more.

Its time to stop all the talk about taxes and actually address the issue, we are too dependant on oil and other solutions must be found.

Sticker shock | 10:06 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

The price of gas in the Bear Lake area,which is between Pocatello and Salt Lake is $4.249. That's in Montpelier not at the lake. Someone is lining their pockets at the expense of the rest of us.

Oklahoma gal | 10:25 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

The gas here in Oklahoma has gone down from $3.81 (when you were at $4.17) to $3.35. Something there in Utah is fishy!

GungaDIn | 10:45 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I'm in Phoenix right now. $3.81 a gallon today. It was $3.91 when I got here Sunday.

Windfall Tax on Oil Thieves | 10:45 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I am all for sticking it to the Oil Thieves otherwise known as Exxon Mobile and the other big oil companies. They rob us (and justify it) so we should levy a tax against the RIDICULOUS PROFITS of the oil giants. These are PROFITS....above and beyond operating costs. The profits are simply padding the pockets of the oil executives. They claim they use it for oil exploration...that is B.S. Hit them with a Windfall Profit Tax and redistribute the money to the american tax payer in the form of a rebate.

Re Gas Station Owner | 10:58 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

If you really paid that from your supplier than you sure arent complaining loud enough.

Thy are even paying less than us in Cailifornia. In the central valley you can get gas for as little as $3.99 that is ridiculous. Especailly when their state tax on fuel is higher. I'm sure they aren't sitting and loosing money.

commodities | 11:00 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

re: Paul | 8:27 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Our water is going down there as well so why not the oil as well.

Anonymous | 11:02 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

This problem probably doesn't stem from JUST oil company greed or JUST shady politics. It's both (and probably other factors, too). However, it's amazing to me that no matter HOW BAD our country, our economy, or our environment gets under the Republican watch, Utah voters act like sheep at the election polls. Why? Here's my theory: As long as greed, corruption and outright stupidity are packaged with flag waving and bible thumping, it's just the right combination to distract the masses. Wake up, people. You don't have to be Republican to be patriotic. You don't have to be Republican to be religious.

Don't blindly vote for Democrats either. Instead look at each candidate carefully before casting your vote rather than just defaulting to the Republican vote. In the meantime, think back...when has a Republican administration EVER done you any favors (unless, of course, you're a big greedy corporation with highly paid lobbyists)?

Re Rich Gas Station Owner | 11:09 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

So tell me why on bangeter Exon and 7-eleven were at $3.94 on Saturday and then the very next day they were back at $4.05 i seriously doubt that they purchaed fuel from their supplier and i really doubt that they saw oil futures rise considering it was the weekend.

They are lying to us and they know it.

A Perfect Example | 11:08 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

This is just a perfect example of what our UTAH producers, wholesalers and retailers are charging. Living in St. George and traveling to Mesquite and Las Vegas frequently it has been common in the last two years for gas to be lower in price than here in St. George. It's high time that the public realizes that these wholesalers and retailers ARE making big money on us. Stop listening to their cries of no profit!!!

Duh | 11:10 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

It costs money to ship gasoline. Places closer to ports or refineries get the benefit of lower shipping costs. People living 800 miles from a large port (uphill) pay more for shipping. If you think you can do it for less, then buy a gas truck, buy wholesale gas in Norfolk or Los Angeles or Houston, drive it here, and sell it for a profit. BECOME one of the highway robbers who are making such a killing. My guess is you'll go broke.

If I owned an oil company... | 11:14 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I would make sure my oil prices (and profits) stay high by #1) making it artificially scarce so I can make more by doing less, #2) make sure there are no legitimate competiting resources (nuclear), #3) make competition entry impossible, and #4) make sure my buddies are in control of governments.

Thank you radical environmentalists for #1 and #2. Thank you Republicans for #3 and #4. And if you vote for Democrats you get more #1 and #2.

I've got you coming and going.

Duh continued | 11:13 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

There are REFINERIES in Oklahoma and Colorado. Maybe more refineries here would make gas cheaper.

LIVES IN VEGAS | 11:29 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Not true. I was in Northern Utah this weekend visiting family. Prices are still higher down here. In fact, that has been the case ever since we started to get ripped off by greedy oil executives.

re: Wa Man | 11:43 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Washington doesn't have a State tax on "everything" like Utah does so You'd better be happy with your $4.19/gal for gas. I'd pay $5.00 per gallon if that meant that we got rid of taxes on everything else.

Viva Las Vegas | 11:48 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Yes!!!

Re DOG's comments | 11:56 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

FINALLY!!! Someone who actually knows and isn't afraid to state what the base problem is. All the other issues stem from these simple facts. Until we PUMP our own oil and REFINE our own oil instead of shipping it out and buying it back, prices are going to be totally out of reason. I remember in the 80's when gas was 1.50 to 1.70 per gallon. Everyone thought that was so awful. Wouldn't we all love to have THOSE awful prices again!!

Various fuel types | 12:25 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

A refinery may not be refining the type of fuel we need exactly when we need it. I believe there are more than 12 fuel types mandated by government and environmental regulations. It takes time and $$ to change a refinery from one fuel type to the next. Shortages occur throughout the country because the fuel type needed in one area may only be created at a refinery across the country at that moment. This may explain SOME of the problem.

Just drove through | 12:27 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I just drove through Utah, nevada and California.

Filled up in St George at Smiths with the 10 cent discount for $4.09 a gallon.

then at topaz lake Nv for $4.15 a gallon. This was cheap considering I had just seen $5.59 in Calif along Hwy-395

It dropped to $4.06 a litle further to the north.
Filled up for $4.09 in Sacramento.

$4.39 in Barstow, CA and $3.83 in Phoenix, AZ

Go figure....

--------
A thought. Perhaps the Exxon/Mobil execs should be running for president. Seems they know how to make money, record money on a 4% profit....
beats Apple's gouging of consumers and most other industries with higher profit margins.
Dn't let the political double talk fool you. The fed tax on gas is HIGHER then the profit margin for Exxon.

Waiting for this story!! | 12:45 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I traveled through Vegas and So Cal last week and paid less than at here. I immediately thought of the spring of 2007 when we were significantly higher than everyone else. It took stories like this one to get public sentiment moving and slap some sense into the suppliers (with some threats from the governor). Two months later and we were below the average national cost.

With family in the retail gas business, I can assure you that it is the refiners and suppliers that are lining their pockets, not the retail establishments.

Russ | 12:47 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I bought gas in Vegas yesterday (July 31) for $3.90. It's $4.09 to $4.17 in St. George and Cedar City.

I'm still looking for that gas that's only 15 cents more expensive than Las Vegas.

Not the gas station... | 1:16 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I agree, it is not the gas station owners that are reaping windfall profits, it is the refiners and producers. Exxon Mobil just released their quarterly profits...11.8 billion (PROFIT, NOT revenues!). Shell was right there also. The Exxon profit was the largest quarterly profit in US history for any company. The whole industry is a "contrived" market, meaning it is controlled by a few large producers who SET prices and ouput (supply). The speculation (/gambling) markets are controlled by large and wealthy entities and they have the ability to "multiply" the price levels by their speculative buying of "futures". All in all, this is a "wealth transfer" where money goes from the poor and middle class to the wealthy. These things happend with some regularity...the S&L crises of the 1980s was a wealth transfer from the middle class to wealthy S&Ls and borrowers (friends of the S&L owners) of the S&Ls. It is all about greed.

Buck Stops | 1:21 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

The buck for all of this crap should stop at our lovely Governors office but guess what, he said last time that there was nothing he can do. Well maybe it is time that our highest office in the state change the good ol boy tatics and get some control over price gouging. How many businesses in this state can get away with this outright theivery, before our commander decides to right the ship? In my opinion because of this economy mess were in, the big man at the top wants to make sure that the revenue from this overpricing continues to flow to the capital pockets, that way they can continue to spend and budget without sacrificing like the rest of us, and go without. POLITICS my friends. Just remember this when the main people responsible for this come up for re-election. Vote please vote

Misplaced Loyalties | 1:33 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Your cries of abuse and high oil prices really fall upon deaf ears in my opinion.

Just what did you expect when you elected two oil men for President and Vice President with the highest approval ratings in the election?

Let's see it has been so long but wasn't gas about $1.48 a gallon when Bush took office?

Our dear friends from the GOP say the price of oil is not manipulated. Oh will it be just a coincidence that the price will go down about a month before the election? After the election it will zoom up. Placate the ignorant masses.

Our dear friends will write in and say the President has nothing to do with the price of gas.

His current war in Iraq and each time he threatens military action in Iran sends the price of oil skyrocketing. I believe the oil speculators call it uncertainty in the political situation in the middle east.

Our currency is debased by his wild borrowing to support his war in Iraq. As of the end of July it was 648 billion dollars on the tab.

I hope you enjoy paying interest to other countries.

Random Thoughts | 1:45 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

So gas is .20 cents cheaper in Vegas, so what! What is that, $2.00 on a 10 gallon fill up...The whole country is suffering with the high gas prices, not just Utah. I'm sure there are a few small station around that cheat customers but the stations aren't the problem it's big oil companies, cartels and speculative traders. I hope the day comes when the demand for oil drops significantly and unexpectedly and all these idiots lose their shorts in the oil market.

Time for a Mob... | 1:48 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Whelp! That's the last straw for me, I'm lighting up my torch and grabbing my pitchfork, anyone want to come along?

Bart | 2:17 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

And in traveling around the Denver area this past few days, you can get regular gas many places for 3.789, and most places for 3.85. Hmmmm!

Two dollars here, two there.. | 2:34 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Maybe it is only "2 dollars" on a fill up, when comparing prices here versus wherever. But, that is the nature of inflation..."two dollars here, 20 cents there, a dime over here...". It all adds up and the cumulative effect is felt by all of us. Our wages are not keeping up (speaking generally now...) and we are getting squeezed a little at a time. I am definitely worse off now than I was six or seven years ago.

Denver, CO | 2:34 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

$3.79 / gas

State taxes? | 2:36 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

So what's the difference between the local, city, state tax that Nevada is imposing on a gal of gas as opposed to Utah?

CKS | 2:40 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Purchasing less gas will not drive the price down (as we have seen time and time again). If you want to hit the pocketbooks, don't buy items in the store. They make more on the soda than they do the gas. Yea the gas stations are stuck in the middle, but they would have more clout with the distributors than a gas boycott would.

To Misplaced Loyalties | 2:42 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I'm SOOOO tired of hearing how Bush and his 'oil buddies' are controlling the oil price.

One question: how?

When you answer that, I'll listen.

Otherwise, go find a derick to hide under.

I can't prove it | 2:48 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I worked in a convenience store once upon a time.

So these guys have to buy their gas from a distributor. When they buy high, they immediately pass that along - btw, they make pennies - PENNIES - on a gal of gas.

So when they can buy it cheaper, the lower cost is not immediately passed along - I think they want to make a little more on the down side. There's an economic term for this, but can't remember off the top of my head.

Honestly?? | 2:51 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

How does "Bush control oil prices"? He doesn't. He doesn't have to. The market is an oligopoly, "free market" forces do not work effectively in this market. Bush, being an "oil man" benefits from this. As was said earlier, this is a "wealth transfer scenario". With non-functioning markets, suppliers and speculators can raise prices, in the face of non-increasing costs, and harvest more profit. The only obstacle to their rape of the world public is governmental intrusion into the contrived market place. If they sense that is going to happen they will drop prices to back governments off from taking action. In the face of monopolistic or near monopolistic markets, governments must act to control the transfer of wealth, FOR THE GOOD OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. We act this way with utilities...they have no competitors and would impoverish the communities they serve were it not for control of their pricing by government oversight.

JJ | 2:49 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I spoke with my father this morning who lives in rural AZ. His cheap 87 octane gas was $3.86 a gallon. COME ON UTAH LETS GET IT TOGETHER.

it's not just BUSH | 3:04 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

At least BUSH has lifted the ban on off shore drilling! If the Democratic congress would follow suit gas prices would fall rapidly. Just the fact that we are going to tap the resource, even if it takes 7 years to produce gas, will drive down overseas oil prices. Competition does that. The quickest way to get out of this recession is to lower fuel prices... after all, higher fuel means higher food, services etc. So stop blaming the republicans and call your congressman... oh wait, the Utahn's are all republicans!

name withheld for a reason | 3:12 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I am a Branch President, so donï¿½t think I am bashing the Church. I have a little insight into what is going on. I worked as a Safety Director for a drilling company in Midland, Texas back in the 70s. I remember the rough necks, guys that do the dirty work on the drilling rig, telling me I do not understand why we capped this well because it was a producer. The big oil companies can and do manipulate gas prices. Next there are greedy crooked men some of which are attorneys, judges and rich powerful men in Utah. They are also members of my church. One judge was my ex-wife's ex-husband. I traveled around the state and researched him and identified many others that were into many crooked enterprises. I spent thousands of dollars on 3 different attorneys, but was never able to get a court date in Utah. My wifeï¿½s ex-husband even told me I was losing my job months before I got laid off. I basically had to retire early because of the persecution I endured over this and subsequently left the state. The Mormon Mafia/gadianton robbers are alive and well in Utah.

Jail Time | 3:21 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Isn't it about time that the housing market, oil industry, pharmaceutical, and insurance, leaders were investigated, convicted, and did some serious jail time? I think so.

Fix it | 3:42 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

I'm sick of this garbage. The problems not us so many genius' seem to be saying here. It's the gas owners and corporations. I hate government intervention, and I'm so ready for it here. Someone fix it. They've earned it.

Jail Time?? | 3:49 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. It's called supply and demand. Lower demand = lower prices. If everybody drove less the prices would come down. If you had a product that everybody wanted/needed and were raking in millions, I'm sure you'd be singing a different tune.

absurd | 4:00 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

If it wasn't so tragic, it would be amusing that everyone is talking about gasoline at 3.60 a gallon as if that's a deal! That, I suppose, is how the old moguls who run this country get us to think. Jack up the prices to a ridiculous extreme during the summer each year and then drop them a quarter and we feel like we're getting a reprieve. Gas prices are a joke. I stopped driving a long time ago and rely on public transit. It's great. I don't get crippled every time I need to go somewhere, and I know that at least none of my money is going directly into this national nightmare of a presidential administration and tyrannical war campaign!

Utah Resident | 4:00 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Keep voting for the party of Big Oil--They know Utah's in the Bag anyway.

wrz | 4:05 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Cheap is Just Not The Same | 9:43 a.m. Aug. 1, 2008

"The sad thing, is how the oil companies have driven up the prices so high for so long we have become acclimated to it all. Than when we see gas below $4 a gallon we think we are getting a deal, when in reality we are still getting robbed."

That was the plan all along. It always works.

The good side is that everybody will get back in their cars and the economy will begin to hum again... At just under $4/gal.

robert j petersen | 4:14 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Texas has no income due to oil revenues. Alaska gives a nice check out each year for over $1,000. We produce 19 million barrels of oil a year here. We also have 800 billion barrels of shale oil. Not to mention plenty of natural gas. ISn't there some way the citizens of Utah could benefit? Maybe an export fee or something? Oh well, sea algae oil will be in big production in 5 years or so and we won't need subsurface carbon fuels.

lynn | 4:44 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

It's 3.61 here in North Dallas down from 4.00 in 12 days.

Invest | 5:16 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Big evil corporations are owned by millions of shareholders. There is nothing preventing anyone on this message board from owning and benefiting from these profits. The way people talk, it sounds like there are 10 evil guys in a board room handing out the 11.7 billion dollar profit to the executives. WEALTH TRANSFER? If distributing money to shareholders in the form of dividends is wealth transfer then I suggest everyone check their 401ks and mutual funds and make sure that any dividend received from the "Greedy oil execs" gets distributed back to the poor.

Look for opportunities, not government intervention. Buy more stock in Exxon if you think it will continue to make money. Isn't complaining about an extra $4 a tank just as greedy as a business trying to increase profits for stockholders?

Big D | 5:18 p.m. Aug. 1, 2008

Government control is not the answer. That will just lead to higher taxes because when the government controls an industry they also have to susidize it. This means I will pay for poor people's food, healthcare, and gas. No thanks. Let's wake up and drill in ANWR. There is oil out there but we wouldn't want to hurt the wasteland in Alaska. Override the environmentalist and drill. Even if we threatened to drill prices would come down because of the threat.
By the way, over 70% of what you pay at the pump goes to tax, be it state or federal, so careful where you point the blame. Those dirty oil companies profiting from thier business. Heaven forbid.

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Vegas gas prices are 15¢ below Utah's