40 Cents Here, 40 Cents There, Pretty Soon We Are Talking About Real Money

Comments on the lack of prediction on September 2: While enjoying lower prices during the week of Labor Day, we got a surprise hike to $3.39 in Michigan last Monday.

Sunday, September 15, 2024, 2 PM: The good news is that oil is down 10% over the past few weeks and that has put downward pressure on wholesale gas prices. The annual end-of-the-summer blend has helped, too. The bad news is that whatever methodology the retailers are using this year spit out a hike last Monday, and our Gas Buddy had the appropriate response.

So, to play the Gas Game, we remain in a struggle to adapt to the current paradigm. Looking at my pricing records since May, it is as if my calculations are off by 40 cents. For instance, a week ago, my margin calculation was a healthy 46 cents, and then with the hike, it landed at 71 cents. In years past, we could wait for a 0-10 cent margin to see a 25-40 cent hike.

Well, even with an unprecented 40-cent fudge factor, I don’t predict a fresh hike this week. Go find $2.99 where you can, drivers! -EA

13 thoughts on “40 Cents Here, 40 Cents There, Pretty Soon We Are Talking About Real Money

  1. I think it will be our turn, to start the week in Illinois. Although my methods are a little different, margins seem to have sagged to the same point as provoked our last hike 3 weeks ago.

  2. Anderson and Daleville Indiana $3.29 at Speedway and Payless/Kroger. GasBuddy is wonky and won’t let my price updates post.
    With GasBuddy sabotaging the site it’s harder to shop around.

  3. South Bend IN – Family Express spike $3.29. Plenty of $2.95 around. Costco $2.73. SBN avg 3.03.
    Hard to tell with the downgraded GasBuddy site.

  4. Joe….Prices on web site have always been subject to rejecting hikes or drops of more than a few cents at a time. I’ve taken to using just the App and my new higher prices can be seen THERE at least for a while though sometimes they revert to the old price. It’s definitely not too useful for price shopping.

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