Rock County retailer predicts much higher gas prices by Memorial Day
ROCK COUNTY — A local business owner is slowly getting out of the retail gas business because it's becoming impossible to make a profit at the street level.
Paul Simon, of Roulette Oil, owned nine gas stations in Rock and Walworth Counties at one time. He now owns only two, both in the Beloit area. Simon says he's trying to move up one notch and wants to broker gas to retailers.
Simon is also very vocal about how to bring gas prices down, and thinks we should speak out too. He says everyone should call their U.S. Senators and Congressional Representatives and ask them to take oil off the futures market. He says that would have an immediate effect on gas prices, which he predicts would drop about 45%.
If the current trend continues, Simon expects gas to be selling for around $3.89 by Memorial Day.
May 1, 2008 at 8:50 a.m.
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My Boat and Truck and all my camping gear will be sitting this MM day. (sad). It will be very interesting to see how everything pans out this year. I normaly plan like 13 or 15 trips a year. This year I have none planned. I assume I am not the only one who feels this way
May 1, 2008 at 8:50 a.m.
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Yeah just move closer to work or work closer to home is easy to say, but with the stellar job and housing market, it may not be so easy to do. If we move closer to my work then we are farther away for my wife, if we move in the middle than we both have to drive, doesn't make sense. To whoever said get a job closer to home.....Have you looked for a new job recently? If it was that easy to just get a new job making the same or more than you make now, I think a lot of people would do that, but it isn't that simple. The bottom line is something needs to be done about the cost. Alternative fuel solutions are a great idea, but anything that would actually help is a long ways off yet and not going to help right now.
May 1, 2008 at 6:32 a.m.
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I really don't think you need a rocket scientist to tell you that gas prices will go up more through Memorial Day. HELLOOOOOOO!
Apr 30, 2008 at 8:59 p.m.
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but there is the choice to move closer to work or find a job closer to home. either way, it would/could allow a person to walk or ride their bus... yes, and use public transportation. i don't see low-income people with no cars complaining. they probably have jobs, but don't have to deal with the headaches of a vehicle.... er, gas guzzlers.
Apr 30, 2008 at 1:18 p.m.
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The futures market plays a vital role in price discovery and gives liquidity to the oil market. I did not hear anyone saying we should get rid of the futres market when oil was cheap. Price is what someone is willing to pay. Please read you basic economiecs books! Many people don't understand how the futures markets work.
Apr 30, 2008 at 11:55 a.m.
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Another way to raise prices is selling their gas stations to BP. BP moves in and it's an immediate 5 cent/gallon rise in price.
Apr 30, 2008 at 11:29 a.m.
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im sure uncle sam is aware of what would happen if oil was taken off the futures market. why would they care?? theyre certainly not worried about filling their tanks next week, and dont forget the guy at the top IS oil.
Apr 30, 2008 at 11:09 a.m.
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I agree about taking oil off of the futures market. If our goverment would see that this a major player in our current gas a diesel prices (besides our week dollar) this might help our situation
Apr 30, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
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I'd be surprised if gas prices weren't higher by Memorial Day. Simon proposes a great idea about taking off the futures market. Every time something happens, such as a war, refinery fire, attack on refiner, etc., oil prices skyrocket.
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