Sunday, June 30, 2024, 4 PM: I have returned from a two-week vacation in Europe — my first trip to the continent. I tried not to think about gas prices, other than taking this photo in Linz, Austria.
Note that those prices are per liter, not gallon. One gallon is about 3.7 liters, so multiplying those numbers by 3.7, you are looking at around $6 a gallon. I have no idea what “AdBlue” blend is.
The other Gas Game-related disruption was tweets about our Gas Buddy about the out-of-nowhere hike on June 25. As noted in this tweet, yet another hike that is hard to justify, given our long history of monitoring gas prices. As I wrote in my last post, this year’s behavior suggests that there is some (new?) hidden variable to tease out of our Gas Game work, and right now I don’t know what that is. And yes, it could be simply greed, as major players test the market to see what they can get away with. Usually, there are some lower margin stations keeping prices in check, but not this summer in the Midwest.
So, what’s up for this week? With many taking a 4-day weekend for Independence Day, or even a 12-day vacation starting last Friday, I am expecting demand for gasoline to be higher, and that is going to keep prices from dropping much. Best to use crowdsourcing to find cheapest prices (and wow: $3.28 in Kentwood vs. $3.89 in Wyoming). I don’t have a clever fill-up-the-morning-of-the-hike prediction to make, but I will top my tank on Wednesday morning, just in case. -EA
Could it be that oil companies want gas prices high in order to hurt Biden’s reelection campaign? The petroleum companies don’t want Biden in the White House another four years due to his championing electric vehicles.
https://www.omv.com/en/customers/special-products/adblue
AdBlue® ensures cleanliness
Since 2014, the new EU Euro 6 emission standards have been in force. This means emission limits for nitrogen oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and particulate matter (PM) were further reduced for both trucks and buses.
To economically achieve these new standards engine developments alone were no longer sufficient. The solution is the SCR or Selective Catalytic Reduction where AdBlue® is injected into the SCR catalyst.
This converts problematic nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gases, into a harmless mix of water, air and nitrogen.
Other positive environmental benefits of AdBlue®:
It reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 60% (When compared to Euro 3).
It reduces particles by more than 80% (When compared to Euro 4).
It reduces CO2 by up to 7%.
It is environmentally friendly. The ingredients of AdBlue® are urea and water.
Welcome back from vacation!
AdBlue is what we know as DEF.
Topped off for $3.09 in Anderson Indiana. Lots of $3.60s and $3.50s in the area but this lone station was hoppin’. Shoppin’ it down as much as possible.
K&G in Wyoming (Mich) has reached the Sams/Costco price floor of 3.35. Oil and wholesale gas creeping up. Just filled up.
Smelling a hike here in IL Monday or Tuesday. Speedway has cut prices pretty aggressively here over the long holiday weekend.
One station near Grand Rapids airport went from 3.55 to 3.89 on Sunday. Agree, seems like a price reset is impending.
Indy area hiking to $3.799 this morning.
Family Express going to $3.89 in Lake/Porter.
South Bend IN – Family Express +.50 to $3.79 a day or 2 ago. Costco $3.19. One WMT $3.23. SBN avg $3.52.
Niles MI – WMT $3.65.
Seeing a weirder hike pattern in mid Michigan. Some stations going to 3.69. 3.79, and even 3.59
South Bend IN – Family Express after .50 hike to 3.79 several days ago are now at 3.54, 3.59 & 3.65. Costco has returned to 3.19 after going up a few pennies. SBN avg 3.50. Only 6 listed at 3.79. Lots of 3.49-3.59. 6 at 3.19 including Costco. SE side WMT 3.17.
Niles MI – WMT $3.53