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Elections and gas prices connected? Absurd!

GasBuddy Blog -- Gasoline prices have started to fall. Based on what some of our Facebook fans are saying on GasBuddy's fan page, many believe it's because the election. Really? There apparently is still the myth out there that gas prices react or drop ahead of an election. Gas prices usually do drop, yes, but it has nothing to do with the election.

First off, what are major factors that influence gasoline prices? Well, among the two largest, there is supply, and there is demand. Both of those two have a large bearing on gasoline prices. Without supply, gas prices are sky high. Without demand, gas prices are slashed. So why then do prices always fall into autumn and why does this have nothing to do with the election?

Autumn occurs whether...

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Submitted Oct 18, 2012 By: PD

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KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,282 Points:641,755 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 7:42:01 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse no
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,410 Points:695,260 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 1:05:36 PM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse You overstate your case considerably. While it used to be true that gas prices would fall after Labor Day, they don't do that as much anymore. More important considerations are 1) Refiners are more able to reduce production, within limits, to match demand; 2) political conditions in the middle East; 3) domestic political considerations such as the "fiscal cliff" or a candidate offering different policies can definitely affect prices, and 4) Americans are reducing discretionary driving. Using the national average gas price published by the EPA shows that on frequent occasions since 2004, the gas price has often been higher that it was on or near Labor Day. In several years, the prices even near the Christmas period were higher. The time of year is no longer an adequate predictor of what prices we will pay.
skidsteer85xt Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,087 Points:215,700 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 12:19:29 AM Ignore skidsteer85xt Report Abuse no
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,168 Points:307,705 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 27, 2012 3:18:47 PM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse ok
4wheel Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:19,326 Points:2,769,440 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 27, 2012 6:34:55 AM Ignore 4wheel Report Abuse It happens every election!
dockersbin Veteran Author Virginia Beach Posts:407 Points:279,135 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 4:23:15 PM Ignore dockersbin Report Abuse Give the "Speculators" a new job!
DeserTBoB Champion Author California Posts:1,472 Points:225,950 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 4:16:12 PM Ignore DeserTBoB Report Abuse Anyone who finds this "absurd" needs to pull up a 5 year chart. It happened in '08, it' happened in '00, and it happened again in '96. There IS a correlation as oil speculators pull money off the table after the election.
baddog58 Champion Author Texas Posts:1,193 Points:707,580 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Nov 23, 2012 8:30:07 AM Ignore baddog58 Report Abuse I have never seen any correlation!
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,168 Points:307,705 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 16, 2012 11:07:35 AM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse ok
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,529 Points:445,200 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 15, 2012 11:18:00 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse Really?
bady777 All-Star Author Edmonton Posts:865 Points:303,285 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2012 11:12:08 AM Ignore bady777 Report Abuse It's possible.
benjy Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,710 Points:1,815,275 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Nov 11, 2012 12:38:57 PM Ignore benjy Report Abuse only haters and idiots think so... oh they're the same thing...
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 7, 2012 5:50:31 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse miller: lol. Good observation :)
MrLefty0706 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,590 Points:379,760 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Nov 7, 2012 12:48:55 AM Ignore MrLefty0706 Report Abuse Eliminate the speculators and the oil prices will stabilize at a lower level.
millertw Rookie Author Oklahoma Posts:3 Points:38,860 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2012 8:48:57 PM Ignore millertw Report Abuse Weird how the last debate discussed oil prices. Gas dropped the next day.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2012 5:54:27 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse amen, wrmedic. And ethanol changes if someone in China sneezes....
wrmedic Champion Author Nebraska Posts:1,039 Points:367,025 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Nov 5, 2012 11:21:58 AM Ignore wrmedic Report Abuse Heck they are all connected. Why does price of corn go down in Nebraska when it rains in Chicago. It all has to do with speculators.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 5, 2012 6:07:13 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse economy is not going to recover w/ diesel still at $4 / gal. Doesn't matter who gets elected.
dockersbin Veteran Author Virginia Beach Posts:407 Points:279,135 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 4, 2012 10:06:03 AM Ignore dockersbin Report Abuse Only time will tell but might as well enjoy it while its low!
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,488 Points:1,347,625 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Nov 4, 2012 8:44:34 AM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse Then all we gotta do is wait 'till Wednesday?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 4, 2012 7:12:26 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse some prices here dropping down to about 3.20 and a little lower. Can't wait to pay 2.xx rather than 3.xx for gas. now.. if diesel would drop... sigh. 3.99 everywhere here.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 9:54:52 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Nonoy: the rest of country is falling. You, in LongIsland, have other reasons.
NonoyLawsi Rookie Author Long Island Posts:22 Points:11,340 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 8:41:18 PM Ignore NonoyLawsi Report Abuse i'm not sure they're connected... although it pretty much increases slowly
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,168 Points:307,705 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 1:01:52 PM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse Just the facts please. Conversion to winter gas is completed, and usually allows for price drops.
RapMassaG Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,646 Points:1,073,190 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 9:29:24 AM Ignore RapMassaG Report Abuse If they WERE connected, ours would not have jumped 50 cents/gallon last weekend.
trugasCA Champion Author California Posts:4,109 Points:172,890 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 9:26:20 AM Ignore trugasCA Report Abuse Always go down after summer travel is over
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 5:41:59 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse just odd that the prices drop rather nicely before the elections, isn't it?
TOOMUCH Sophomore Author Toronto Posts:192 Points:21,170 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 11:14:40 AM Ignore TOOMUCH Report Abuse It's possible.
cookieluver Sophomore Author Arkansas Posts:160 Points:452,005 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 10:10:32 AM Ignore cookieluver Report Abuse It seems as everything have to do with politics.
dcone2 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,065 Points:112,335 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 12:25:56 AM Ignore dcone2 Report Abuse ok
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,488 Points:1,347,625 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 6:12:20 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse Some believe that "All Things" are pre-ordained somehow by politicians.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 5:41:16 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse kp: the author is Patrick DeHaan, one of the GB gods and media darling.
TTQuattro Rookie Author Indiana Posts:72 Points:45,060 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 23, 2012 12:19:25 AM Ignore TTQuattro Report Abuse maybe if we stop with the wars
kp2933 Rookie Author Indianapolis Posts:2 Points:1,940 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:29:21 PM Ignore kp2933 Report Abuse Whoever wrote this article should've taken a look at the 8 historical chart for gas prices on the gasbuddy website! Get a clue!
kp2933 Rookie Author Indianapolis Posts:2 Points:1,940 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 2:28:29 PM Ignore kp2933 Report Abuse Hello?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 22, 2012 6:02:03 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Kar: yea... Econ 101 ... just doesn't apply to gas and diesel.
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,282 Points:641,755 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Oct 21, 2012 7:36:36 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse Sure -- supply and demand. A crock.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,834 Points:1,638,195 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 21, 2012 9:20:42 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse funny how short a memory exists in the GB gods' world.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:5,086 Points:1,211,435 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Oct 21, 2012 9:14:04 AM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse definitely connected!
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,488 Points:1,347,625 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 11:57:06 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse Lots of people believe that everything including gas prices are manipulated by some secret "they" committee someplace, somehow and "they" set the price of biscuits, gasoline and taxes from their secret meeting place someplace or other. "They" also determine their kids grades, car prices and everything else. So where does this guy -- this moderator fellow-- get off trying to sneak in some logic.
csblesson Champion Author Texas Posts:1,931 Points:379,700 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 11:35:40 PM Ignore csblesson Report Abuse It is definitely connected!
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:7,083 Points:2,144,190 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 8:11:08 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse Okay, then, its completely coincidental.
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,529 Points:445,200 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 5:04:13 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse I certainly hope not.
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,496 Points:1,271,125 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 3:51:08 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory.
Lobsters11 Rookie Author Sacramento Posts:29 Points:16,075 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 20, 2012 1:00:08 PM Ignore Lobsters11 Report Abuse duh!
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,586 Points:745,565 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 7:03:21 PM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse Unfortunately yest they are.
PCWHIZ All-Star Author Denver Posts:585 Points:449,840 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 6:34:28 PM Ignore PCWHIZ Report Abuse Yes, absurd!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,600 Points:2,373,210 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 4:32:22 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Elections and gas prices connected? Absurd! But, Maybe...... Just Maybe............. Supply down, fuel prices up. Demand down, fuel prices up. A fire here, some refinery maintenance there. A refinery shut down over there. Close a refinery here to reduce expenses, less fuel produced. An airline company buys a refinery to try to control their fuel prices. Big Oil and Big Gas exports fuel and natural gas to other countries for higher prices and profits, less supply here. All at the whim of Big Oil. Less federal oil drilling permits issued, restricitions on oil drilling in the Gulf after the BIG Gulf spill. Some EPA policies are out of control. Fred takes over and fuel prices are much much higher than four years earlier. There is NO reason why fuel prices should change so much or be so high! And the plot thickens! What will gasss prices be after the November election, wait and see for that one! Hmmm..... Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII! Calm down rx7............
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,321 Points:1,138,410 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 3:51:01 PM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse Wow, do people even bother to read the article, or just go ahead and post their tripe anyway? Elections don't change gas prices. Nor do politicians, from the President down, have much influence one way or another - it's a global market, the US is a huge importer, world prices are the biggest determinant by far of gas prices. Give your heads a shake.
ItsMorph Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:33,661 Points:3,213,235 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Oct 19, 2012 3:21:08 PM Ignore ItsMorph Report Abuse Well, O'Bama wants to be re-elected, so they'll go down just long enough to be cheap on election day.