Naples is more expensive than parts up the coast. We have been seeing 2.22, then it jumped to 2.24 and today it was 2.23. There are still the giant brand name places that think it is worth 2.35 to 2.37. I wonder why there is nobody at their pumps? Can they really survive just on the convenience store?
ETA: Gas prices depend on the price of oil, the price of refining it, transporting it, the federal/state/local taxes, the cost of the gas station (land, salaries etc.), and the big one is scarcity. With the BP refinery issue areas of the upper Midwest have scarcity which will continue until the refinery comes back on line (about a month). I didn't notice today, but yesterday West Texas Intermediate crude oil was $40 and change for a barrel, so in the greater scheme of things oil prices should continue to go down. Many of the refineries have had overcapacity for a while as people get more fuel efficient vehicles, so many of them (especially Marathon Petroleum) have taken the needed breaks to repair, replace and upgrade their facilities. Their new efficiencies allow them to more competitively price product in their markets. Gas still needs to be shipped and the closer you are to the shipping point, the cheaper the transport of it will be. The big hit we are likely to see in the next few years is that when the average vehicle got 15mpg and there was an 18.4 cent federal tax on gas, a 150 mile trip would drop 1.84 in the roads coffer. At 50mpg (like my hybrid) I am only dropping 55.2 cents in the roads coffer. My car is at least as hard on the roads as any similar weight vehicle whether it gets 15mpg or 100mpg. So gas taxes will likely triple or more as soon as there is the federal/state/local will to do it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2015 10:35PM by Flash.