EDIT: This was originally in reply to the posts before Mac11700's
That's true, but in terms of crude futures, that accounts for about half of the price at the pump. On top of that we have the refining costs (including the cost of meeting environmental requirements), taxes, delivery costs, the oil companies' profits, and profit for the stations at the end of the chain. They're probably in that order, too, in terms of percentage of the total cost.
Right now, I'd bet that a lot people who bought futures at prices above $60 a barrel just lost a good chunk of change, so they're selling off to stop the bleeding. There's also the issue of the ethanol supply, which as I understand it, was short during the summer. Then we have the issue of seasons. Since fuel is sold by volume, what it's in the ground, where it's 55 degrees, shrinks when compared to what's in a truck's tank on an 80 degree day. Someone has to absorb that cost.
The "futures" are bought and sold...but...by whom...Hmmmmmmm?...Besides various countries buying them...various holding companies do as well...and guess who controls these holding companies...
Never heard that one. Can you back it up with solid information? This isn't an invitation for argument, I'm just asking for your sources, because I'd like to learn more.
Another note: I've heard Limbaugh and other Republican loyalists say something along the lines of "the price does this every year." Well, I went back and looked using data from the Commodities Research Bureau, and that is
not the case. Most other years it went up beginning in October. Last year, it was going up no matter what, with H. Katrina and H. Rita wrecking the southern coasts. I will post the charts shortly.
p.s. The price is going up again in November.
From 1996 to 2006, daily crude futures, one frame per year