Gas prices are decided by global supply and demand for crude oil, which acts as the primary driver, with no single company or government controlling the price. The final cost at the pump is determined by four main components: crude oil (approx. 47% of the price), refining costs (approx. 16%), distribution and marketing (approx. 20%), and federal and state taxes (approx. 17%).
Global supply and demand = cost of crude per barrel = base gas prices up and down. USA pumps and refines more than the USA consumes but, since it is a Global set price, any disruption in any country who supplies to the many countries that need, the price goes up.. such as the disruption in Iran's shipping and Iran disrupting the flow through the straight that they do not even own.
Global average of roughly $5.68 per gallon
Cheapest Gas: Countries like Libya ($0.09/gal), Iran ($0.11/gal), and Venezuela ($0.13/gal) offer rock-bottom prices due to oil subsidies and low taxes.
Most Expensive Gas: Hong Kong leads at $15.37/gal, followed by Malawi ($10.83/gal) and Norway ($10.37/gal), largely due to high environmental taxes and import costs.
United States: The U.S. average sits at $4.29 per gallon (as of March 23, 2026), placing it in the top third of the cheapest nations globally, despite recent spikes driven by the war in Iran and tariffs on imported crude.
So, no.. more often than not it is NOT "the gas companies gouging" though, always need to keep an eye on that, same with every big producer companies.
So we have no control over our own fuel pricing?!!!! Did that change or something? Because I remember paying between $.79 and $.90 per gal back in '92 when I first got my driver's license at 16 y.o.
Well what we have to do today in order to produce your gasoline is a whole lot more. We have to operate a lot of units to remove sulfur and other components that we didnt use to.
Also all the added on components for our emissions to the air in the refinery. SCRs, scrubbers, etc. So all this additional costs regulated by the government gets passed on to the consumer. For a US made product that is. Overseas they do what ever they want and pollution isn't a big deal.
At the same time, the companies cut our pay, reduce our benefits, and make it not nearly attractive place to work. Who wants to work in this industry and deal with a much higher cancer risks while the company reduces and tries to work at taking your health insurance? So there is definitely a whole lot of greed from these companies also. So no doubt if they can inflate product prices they are going to do that too.
No, it has always been this way.. well always as in last couple gens before that, donno, would have to look it up. Global market sets the price per barrel of crude based on supply n demand. Maybe, it has something to do with increased state and fed taxes since then and or the price of other things related to processing the crude into gas? Remember back during Biden, they were pressing HIGH taxes on natural gas and gasoline to combat "climate change".. Some states STILL are doing that btw.. like WA for one.. Our Dollar as well has weakened since the 90's .
Gas prices are decided by global supply and demand for crude oil, which acts as the primary driver, with no single company or government controlling the price. The final cost at the pump is determined by four main components: crude oil (approx. 47% of the price), refining costs (approx. 16%), distribution and marketing (approx. 20%), and federal and state taxes (approx. 17%).
Global supply and demand = cost of crude per barrel = base gas prices up and down. USA pumps and refines more than the USA consumes but, since it is a Global set price, any disruption in any country who supplies to the many countries that need, the price goes up.. such as the disruption in Iran's shipping and Iran disrupting the flow through the straight that they do not even own.
Global average of roughly $5.68 per gallon
Cheapest Gas: Countries like Libya ($0.09/gal), Iran ($0.11/gal), and Venezuela ($0.13/gal) offer rock-bottom prices due to oil subsidies and low taxes. Most Expensive Gas: Hong Kong leads at $15.37/gal, followed by Malawi ($10.83/gal) and Norway ($10.37/gal), largely due to high environmental taxes and import costs.
United States: The U.S. average sits at $4.29 per gallon (as of March 23, 2026), placing it in the top third of the cheapest nations globally, despite recent spikes driven by the war in Iran and tariffs on imported crude.
So, no.. more often than not it is NOT "the gas companies gouging" though, always need to keep an eye on that, same with every big producer companies.
So we have no control over our own fuel pricing?!!!! Did that change or something? Because I remember paying between $.79 and $.90 per gal back in '92 when I first got my driver's license at 16 y.o.
If price is too low,production will drop and prices will rise....
And .90 in 92 is not equal to .90 today. It's probably equal to several dollars due to inflation,
Well what we have to do today in order to produce your gasoline is a whole lot more. We have to operate a lot of units to remove sulfur and other components that we didnt use to.
Also all the added on components for our emissions to the air in the refinery. SCRs, scrubbers, etc. So all this additional costs regulated by the government gets passed on to the consumer. For a US made product that is. Overseas they do what ever they want and pollution isn't a big deal.
At the same time, the companies cut our pay, reduce our benefits, and make it not nearly attractive place to work. Who wants to work in this industry and deal with a much higher cancer risks while the company reduces and tries to work at taking your health insurance? So there is definitely a whole lot of greed from these companies also. So no doubt if they can inflate product prices they are going to do that too.
No, it has always been this way.. well always as in last couple gens before that, donno, would have to look it up. Global market sets the price per barrel of crude based on supply n demand. Maybe, it has something to do with increased state and fed taxes since then and or the price of other things related to processing the crude into gas? Remember back during Biden, they were pressing HIGH taxes on natural gas and gasoline to combat "climate change".. Some states STILL are doing that btw.. like WA for one.. Our Dollar as well has weakened since the 90's .