i've watched them change daily too.  almost found myself muttering something horrible to the young man who was changing the price.  of course, it's not his fault.  i have to stop thinking about it i guess.  i've actually taken to praying that the prices would level out and/or go down. 

I've taken to filling my tank only halfway, thinking that surely it's going to go down and I can fill my tank again.  I don't drive places I used to drive; I just won't make the extra trip.  I thought it was my imagination when I drove by the Chevron on Olive Dr. in the morning, and by afternoon/evening, the price had gone up around .10/gallon.  WHAT???  It was in the same day!

I'm an eternal optimist, so I keep ignoring the chatter that prices will be over $5.00/gallon by August.  It has to stop at some point!  But think of the bright side (and there IS a bright side).  Know what it is?  It's that somewhere in some extreme think-tank, some major car manufacturer has designers working overtime to be the first manufacturer to come up with an SUV or any car that doesn't look like a hybrid but acts like one--that will not use gas at all!  Ford?  Chevrolet?  Toyota?  Who will be the first and, therefore, the new #1 car manufacturer?  I honestly believe that the Saudis (or whomever) are shooting themselves in the foot here because before too long, America will be free from gasoline dependence.  They are going to force us to come up with a gas-less car or at least a car that gets 50 mpg. 

See...optimistic.

I tend to keep tabs on the price of gas at the 3 stations at Merle Haggard Dr. and Hwy 65 since I work at the Carquest DC.  Here, there's a Shell, Chevron, and an Arco.  I keep most tabs on the Shell because I can barely see what the price is from the red light at Merle Haggard and Industry Parkway Dr.  Last week (I think it was), the Shell went from 3.97 to $4.03 in a less than 24 hour span.  Then a couple of days later, it went from $4.03 straight to $4.17 (making me think, "HOW IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?!?!?!?"), then it went from $4.17 to $4.23.  For the last couple of years the Shell has been 2 cents/gallon cheaper than the Chevron and the Shell changes its price when the Chevron does.  I noticed the Arco was $4.05 last Wednesday, but I haven't seen it since.

I think the government needs to step in and stop this price manipulation!  The oil companies are making insane profits at the expense of the world's economy.  The price for any product has increased pretty drastically in the last couple of years.

This is why I ride a bicycle when I want to go somewhere (at least in the northwest, where I live), instead of droppin an extra gas bill on my parents (they give me rides to places like work or Costco).  I do give them some money for gas, though.  But right now my bike has a bent rim so I need to get that fixed.  Hopefully that will be soon.  Riding a bike requires no gas and bikes don't emit smog, either!

Also, if we don't find a way to get gas prices down, we may be paying extra just for a side of BBQ sauce or ketchup at a fast food joint or restaurant before too long.  I hope it never gets that bad.

This is why the gov't needs to step in now.  They need to say something like, "If you don't lower your prices yourselves, then we'll lower them for you!"

>> I thought it was my imagination when I drove by the Chevron on Olive Dr. in the morning, and by afternoon/evening, the price had gone up around .10/gallon.  WHAT???  It was in the same day!

Dana, Chevron stations are pretty expensive, but it seems like the one you're mentioning is even more expensive than most.  I've seen that one be higher than other stations in the area in the past (within the last few months).

LastRites, demand also has something to do with the high prices.  Americans use a lot of oil.  It's like we take it for granted.  And China and India have suddenly decided to use a lot of oil as well.  Also, diesel prices are even higher (over $5/gallon) and diesel trucks use a lot of gas.  We depend on diesel trucks to move many goods around.

It sure has changed my driving habits--and I never thought that could happen.