The Spike Line

More information on the formulas used to figure the taxes and fees adjustments can be found below. Click on a picture to the right to see a larger view.
—————————-
Updated 03/14/24 07:16 PM EST

Spike Line Statistics for 3/14/2024

($USD)
Chicago Spot $2.5280
Change UP $0.0360
USA Average $3.429
($USD) Indy Indiana Michigan Ohio
Spike Line Deviation $0.1230 $0.1070 $0.2683 $0.1760
Spike Line Price $3.3190 $3.3190 $3.2377 $3.0720
Movement $0.1241 $0.1241 $0.1230 $0.1160
Average $3.4420 $3.4260 $3.5060 $3.2480
Movement -$0.0180 -$0.0100 -$0.0210 -$0.0250

Gas Price Statistics

($USD) Indy Indiana Michigan Ohio
Low $3.019 $2.999 $3.099 $2.699
High $3.599 $3.599 $3.799 $3.499

Diesel Price Statistics

($USD) Indy, Indiana, Michigan
Chicago low sulfur diesel: $2.7590
Change $0.0780
($USD) Indy Indiana Michigan Ohio
Spike Line adjustment: $0.858 $0.858 $0.954 $0.604
Spike Line: $3.617 $3.617 $3.713 $3.363

 

    

Indy Spike Line Chart


      

Indiana Spike Line Chart


      

Michigan Spike Line Chart


      

Ohio Spike Line Chart


Taxes and fees formula for Indianapolis/Indiana

CS + (CS*.07) + ST + FT + IC + CO + FR + RA
Currently: $0.9010

CS = Chicago Spot (currently using NYMEX)
CS*.07 = Indiana Sales Tax (7%)
ST = State Infrastructure Tax or 33¢
FT = Federal Tax or 18.4¢
IC = Inspection Charge or 1¢
CO = Cost adjustment or 18¢
FR = Freight cost or 5¢
RA = Rack Adjustment = -$0.1100

Taxes and fees formula for Michigan

CS + ((FT + CS)*.06) + ST + FT + EC + CO + FR + RA
Currently: $0.8197

CS = Chicago Spot (currently using NYMEX)
ST = State Tax or 26.3¢
FT = Federal Tax or 18.4¢
((CS + FT)*.06) = Michigan Sales Tax on Chicago Spot and Federal Tax
EC = Environmental Charge or 1¢
CO = Cost adjustment or 18¢
FR = Freight cost or 5¢
RA = Rack Adjustment = -$0.1100

Taxes and fees formula for Ohio

CS + ST + FT + CO + FR + RA
Currently: $0.6740

CS = Chicago Spot (currently using NYMEX)
ST = State Tax or 28¢
FT = Federal Tax or 18.4¢
CO = Cost adjustment or 16¢
FR = Freight cost or 5¢
RA = Rack Adjustment = Rack Adjust

Currently I am adding 19.1 cents to the Indy/Indianapolis diesel taxes and fees and 15.9 cents to the Michigan diesel taxes and fees based on how much more taxes are for diesel on the GasBuddy Gas Taxes chart.

The Spike Line is a feature that has been around a while here at TheGasGame.com. Here we will determine a “Spike Line” based on market forces and help you in figuring when is the right time to buy gas.

We start with the Chicago Spot. This is the base line that stations should be paying before they pay taxes, fees, and other stuff like wages, rent and electricity. Those things are factored in with the Spike Line Adjustment. The Rack Adjustment is the difference between Chicago’s weekly rack number and Indianapolis’s, Detroit’s, or Cleveland’s, depending on your state.

Add those all together, and we get the Spike Line. See how close that is to the average for the day (and I judge it by the GasBuddy average) And that is the Spike Line Deviation. Too large a deviation, and you should hold off on buying gas. Closer to zero, and you should keep an eye on prices, as a spike is close. If it is in the negative, buy ASAP, because a spike could be coming.

 

TheGasGame.com (c) All Rights Reserved Frontier Theme