My tank is empty and I couldn't find gas all weekend

Pre-weekend supply and demand (Easley issues warning on gas price gouging):

A run on gasoline ahead of Hurricane Ike fueled long lines and rising prices today as Gov. Easley warned against price gouging and others urged patience until the hurricane's effect on Gulf coast gas refineries can be assessed later this weekend.

Some stations, including the Crossroads Center in Lexington, increased the price of regular unleaded gas to more than $5 a gallon.

Comments

[LFLIATWP]

I found it interesting to hear reports on Friday morning in Lexington similar to what you see in your picture (gas prices near or above $5). On the way home from work; however, I could not find any of those $5 stations. Prices had fallen back down below $4. I wondered what the cause was. That night on the news, I saw Gov. Beshear announce that he had earlier that day signed an executive order authorizing the Attorney General to aggressively investigate price gouging claims. I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

[odograph]

At least California prices aren't moving (yet) in suspicious symmetry.

(Very little gasoline or oil is physically traded between the coasts, but somehow hurricane prices seem to justify a rise here.)

[Rachel]

I am so glad I moved away from the east coast, gas is still 3.70 in Colorado, although I'm sure it will jump soon in response.

[Bob Murphy]

Odograph,

At least California prices aren't moving (yet) in suspicious symmetry.

(Very little gasoline or oil is physically traded between the coasts, but somehow hurricane prices seem to justify a rise here.)

Can't you at least wait until your gas prices go up before you blame it on a conspiracy? :)

[Solarstuff2]

Gas prices dropped to $3.34 in Missouri before the storm. Since the storm up.. 25 to 30 cents per gallon.