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Originally Posted by Jaxian I'm not certain this is the case. This article claims that Americans are consuming less gas in the first half of 2006. The article does claim that record amounts of gasoline are being imported, however this import is apparently due to the need to offset the lack of gasoline being produced in domestic refineries after hurricane Katrina destroyed a few. These imports are not due to increased gas sales. Ah, here is the link to the article: http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Stor...CB%7D&keyword=
And here is another article which talks about the profits of ExxonMobile in the first quarter of 2006: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14056592/
What these articles tell us is that while gas sales in the US dropped 1.3%, ExxonMobile's profits increased by 12%. This increase in profits does not appear to be caused by increased gas consumption in the US. |
That's not my point, and never was.
AMERICANS CONSUME TOO MUCH GAS AND DIESEL FUEL!
Part of this is inevitable, due to the transporation & shipping needs of a nation that is THE world superpower.
PART OF THIS IS TOTALLY AVOIDABLE! Ever been on the interstate during rush-hour traffic? 99% of all vehicles clogging the roads have 2 or less people in them - and MANY of these vehicles are HUGE trucks and SUVs. There is NO GOOD REASON to have 1 person commuting in a huge truck when 4 people could be riding in a VW Jetta TDI, getting 45 mpg.
The reason Exxon/Mobile is earning $79,000 per minute profit is because WE ARE LETTING THEM. We need to be driving more efficient vehicles less miles. Period. And I'm not talking about one-half of one percent less fuel consumption. I'm talking MAJOR reductions. Until that happens, gas prices will NEVER go down. |