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Three prominent government agencies say gasoline demand is dropping

Questioning oil industry propaganda ...

If you listen to Big Oil and the nightly news, you probably think that high gas prices are all your fault. For months, they've reported that "fuelish" consumers are using more gas than ever before.

As it turns out, these claims may be little more than oil lobbyist propaganda: In May, four prominent organizations backed UCAN's long-standing claim that gas consumption is down.

According to the California Board of Equalization (CBE), the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Transportation, and others, consumers are using significantly less gasoline. And if anybody should know, it ought to be the CBE - they collect the taxes on every gallon sold in California. According to them, gas consumption has decreased by a whopping 2.5% even though there are more drivers on the road in California.

On Wednesday, June 14, CNN Money reported that outputs in refined gasoline in California dropped by a massive 10% (6.7% less than last year during the same week). Yet since June 14 through today, gas prices have tumbled from $3.20 a gallon to $3.13 a gallon. What's more, these are the lowest inventories since May 11 when San Diego gasoline prices had reached a record-breaking high of $3.48 a gallon.

What all this means is that the California Oil Cartel's claim that consumers keep buying gas no matter what the price is highly questionable. Supposedly, a 3% shortfall in supplies will create a 30¢ price spike, yet in the last week, we've seen a 10% reduction in the supply of gas and prices are still dropping. Read more...

"Gas Out" for slacktivists, not activists

Why the Great Gas Out scheduled for May 15 is a slacker's boycott.

Only $400 million? Is Ray Irani, CEO of Occidental Petroleum just a bottomfeeder?

Occidental Petroleum's CEO, 72-year old Ray Irani, has announced that he is getting a paycheck in excess of $400 million. Oracle Corporation's CEO Larry Elison took home a $706 million paycheck in 2001 and Michael Eisner of Walt Disney received $570 million in 1998. Poor, poor Ray. He must feel so inadequate ...  

Crude Reality: at $3.29 San Diego Gas prices break an all-time record. Have they peaked?

Today, San Diego gas prices reached an all-time high of $3.29 for April. In the history of California, gasoline has never cost this much, this early in the year ... (more) 

Raccoon takes out Exxon refinery. Gas prices (and Exxon profits no doubt) spike to new record high

A raccoon and opussum have been reported as the culprits behind the downing of two major LA refineries. The outages created extreme shortages on the spot market, driving prices to new record highs for April. At this point, the only excuse the Oilies haven't used is "The dog ate my oil well."

Gaszilla! Godzilla joins forces with Shell, ARCO, Exxon, BP, and Chevron

What happens when you meld a ten-story-high, 100-ton, man-eating monster with the world's most ruthless and greedy oil lords? Consumers get seriously gouged, that's what. You won't even believe the prices your eyes will see. WATCH VIDEO

The Algebra of Need

Why gasoline prices are high, and the myth of the "struggling gasoline refinery"



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