Consumerist
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cheapskates
Austin Jiffy Lubes Too Cheap To Dispose Of Oil Properly, Keep Dumping It In City Sewer System
Heartland Automotive Services, Inc., which runs 31 Jiffy Lubes in the Austin area, has to pay a $300,000 fine after admitting to pumping used oil into the city's sewer system instead of recycling it. Normally shops are paid by the gallon for used oil, but in this case a damaged wall let water seep into the oil collection area and create a toxic mess that couldn't be sold—so instead of paying to remove it, they pumped it down the drain. More » -
gas prices
So, Why Is The Price Of Gas Rising Now?
Anne writes:
I just don't get it. Does Consumerist know of a good media source that has a *current* (i.e., in the last week or two) breakdown of why the heck gasoline prices are rising 10 cents a week and more in the last month?
Let's take a stab at some possible reasons.
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explainers
Video: Oil Speculators To Blame For Record Gas Prices After All
If you thought oil speculators as the reason behind the historic gas prices spikes of this summer was debunked, think again. From '07 to when the price of oil collapsed, supply increased and demand dropped. According to basic economic theory, this should've meant the price went down. But all of a sudden an influx of capital, an infusion that brought the total at play from $13 billion to $300 billion, brought to market by large investment bankers, exploiting de-regulation and trading in black box private exchanges made possible by Enron, drove the price of oil from $69 to almost $150. A new 60 Minutes report explores the issue. Video inside. More » -
gas
Despite OPEC's Best Efforts, Oil Prices Have Slipped Below $40 A Barrel
Oil prices have fallen below $40 a barrel, a 4 year low, despite OPEC announcing that it would cut production by 2.2 million barrels a day. More » -
oil
What Would $40 A Barrel Oil Mean For Travelers?
Oil is now nearing a 4-year low as the world's economic crisis keeps on truckin', says the Wall Street Journal. Light, sweet crude (don't you just love that term?) is now trading at 44.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. "The price was the lowest since January 2005 and more than $100 below oil's record close July 3," says the WSJ. So, what does that mean for travelers? More » -
fuel surcharge
Should An Infant With No Seat Have To Pay A $320 Fuel Surcharge?
Here's an interesting situation. When babies fly domestically, they fly for free — but international flights require a ticket and, apparently, a huge fuel surcharge.
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heat
Firewood Is The New Hotness. Literally.
Heating oil prices got you down? Thinking of burning some wood to stay warm this winter? You're not the only one. In fact, Consumer Reports says that firewood prices are through the roof this fall. It's gotten so bad that people are actually stealing wood. More » -
gas prices
Why Was Gas So Expensive?
Did you know that gas price gouging almost never occurs as prices rise? Rather, it's most often when dealers keep prices artificially high even as their costs fall. As gas costs were near $5 a gallon until falling and oil companies earn around $100 billion each year, it's a good time to question what really goes into the price of gas. The numbers on the gas station sign hide a complex set of transactions. Before gas can power your car, it must be discovered as crude oil, traverse three markets, and be refined from crude into gas. Inside, we'll explain the three markets, walk you through the role of refineries, and show how oil companies use creative tactics to manipulate gas prices...
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3:12 PM on Mon Oct 13 2008
By Carey Alexander
38,689 views, 106 commentsMost discussed ai2tis: I guess my comment will be banned because this blog is mainly American. But the truth sometimes hurts. I can't believe. more »
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GOOD Sheet
Find Out Where Your Money Goes When You Buy Gas
Want to know where your fifties go when you fill up your car with gas? GOOD's latest chart breaks down the assorted costs, and compares them with other places around the globe. You can grab a free printed copy at any Starbucks, or go here to check it out in bright RGB goodness.
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economy
Consumer Spending Will Shrink For The First Time In Nearly Twenty Years
Consumer spending, the engine that powers our economy, is probably going to shrink for the first time in nearly two decades, says the NYT — a move that will "all but guarantee" that the current economic crisis will deepen. More » -
shortages
85% Of Gas Stations In Nashville, TN Are Without Gas Right Now
You know you've got a national infrastructure to be proud of when one of the country's largest cities is pretty much out of gas. From the Tennessean: More » -
baggage fees
Oil Prices Down But Airline Fees Remain
Airlines have added all sorts of fees to compensate for their increased oil costs recently. Now that oil has dropped, the fees are gone, right? Nope. Now that we're all acclimated to a la carte pricing, which airlines have lusted to implement for ages, don't expect it to be going away anytime soon. $2 fee to have the window open, $4 to have it shut.
Oil Is Cheaper, But Airline Fees Are Here to Stay [WSJ via Consumer World Blog] (Photo: Maulleigh)
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united airlines
United: Did We Say $25 For The Second Bag? How About $50.
United Airlines has decided that $25 was too generous a price to check your second bag with their airline, and have announced that they'll be bumping the fee up to $50. More » -
Minerals Management Service
Minerals Management Service Take Pay-For-Offshore-Oil-Play Scandal "Extremely Seriously"
WHO: Minerals Management Service
WHAT: A government agency in charge of issuing offshore drilling leases and collecting royalties was accused of getting payola in the form of sex, drugs, money, alcohol and gifts from oil and gas industry representatives.
WHERE: Oil brokers sex scandal may affect drilling debate [AP]
THE QUOTE: In an interview, MMS Director Randall Luthi said the agency took the report "extremely seriously"(Thanks to everyone who sent this in!) (Photo: zncjmom)
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cars
American Driving Declines By Steepest Amount In 100 Years
From November to June, American driving dropped by 53.2 billion miles, according to the Department of Transportation. Billion. 53.2 billion fewer miles. That's insane, and kind of beautiful. [NYT]
Exxon has set another record for profitability, with $45.2 billion in 2008, up from $40.6 billion in 2007. As prices fell in the fourth quarter, however, Exxon's income fell 33 percent. [
