The Price of Gasoline Essay -- essays research papers

The Price of GasolineWhat you are suffering for when you buy a gal of accelerator pedal? Most people complain about the high make up of gasoline, but few check how the cost is calculated. Many people mobilise this bell is for gasoline only, but many other factors determine what you pay at the pumps.Gasoline is a mixture of the lighter liquid hydrocarbons, and utilize chiefly as a provoke for internal-combustion engines Microsoft Encarta, 2005). Crude oil accounts for closely 17 percentage of the energy consumed in the unite States. Gasoline is one of the main products developed from crude oil in the United States. The prime use for gasoline is in automobiles and light trucks. Fuel produced all family round, and is delivered from oil refineries through pipelines to a massive distribution chain part 167,000 retail stations throughout the United States (EIA Brochures, 2004).The prices paid by consumers at the pump reflect the cost to produce and deliver gasoline to cons umers. include is the cost of crude oil to refiners, refinery- processing be, marketing and distribution costs, and in conclusion the retail station costs and taxes. Approximately 27 percent of the cost of a gallon of gasoline is federal, state, and local taxes. Another 14 percent is a combination of distribution, marketing, and retail dealer costs and profits. Refining costs and profits account for about 15 percent of the retail price of gasoline. This part varies from region to region due to the different formulations traind in different parts of the country (EIA Brochures, 2004) .The average retail price for gasoline tends to be higher in certain States or regions than in others. agree to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), other factors contribute to regional and local differences in gasoline prices aside from taxes. Special gasolines are required in some areas of the country. Environmental programs, aimed at reducing carbon monoxide, smog, and air toxins, require oxygenated reformulated, and low-volatility (evaporates more slowly) gasoline, which comes at a much higher price (EIA Brochures, 2004).The law of proximity of refineries to crude oil supplies can be a factor, as well as shipping costs from the refinery to market. In addition, the areas farthest from the Gulf chute are the source of nearly half of the gasoline produced in the United States, and th... ...ors that go into that price. Whether its the taxes charged by federal state, and/or local government, the amount of competition in the region, the regions proximity to a reliable gasoline supply or even emissions regulations. The price of the fuel we buy is carefully calculated and is subject to many variables. Informed consumers should understand these factors, and keep them in mind each time they fill their tanks. qualityCalifornia Energy Commission, Media and public communications office, (1994-2008), pageupdated 03/17/2007 Retrieved 05/19/2007 from http///www.energy.ca.gov/ga soline_q- and-a.htmlEnergy Information Administration, (2003) California gasoline price study exploratory findings, Retrieved 5/04/2007 from Http//www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/feature_articles/2003/cagasoline/cagasoline.pdfSpecialized Information Services, A priming on gasoline prices, publication number DOE/EIA-X040, (released June 2007), Retrieved 5/04/2007 from Http//www.eia.doe.gov/neic/ cusp/oil_gas/primer/primer.htmSpeir, Robert A, Investigation into the current run-up in gasoline, (2004-2008) Retrieved 5/18/2007 from Http//www.iic-inc.com/curr.shtml