How Do Gas Prices Rise in your area?

[jefferios]

I've always been puzzled by this. Everywhere I've been EXCEPT the Twin Cities, MN gas prices may rise and fall slowly, once in awhile they rise by maybe 10 cents in a day. But definitively not a pattern.

Here in MN this is what they do and have done since 2002:

Day 1, 3.79
Day 2 (Morning) 3.79
Day 2 (Afternoon ~1pm) 4.05
Day 3 (Afternoon) 3.95
Day 4, 3.91
Day 5, 3.87
Day 6, 3.85
Day 7, 3.85
Day 8 (Morning), 3.85
Day 8 (Afternoon), 4.15

[SmartCard]

Tha't much like gasprices around here...quite often 10 - 20 cents jumps, but then only a gradual, 2 - at the most 5 cents fall over the ensuing days. Gee ....I hope day 8 is not today, it was $3.94 - 3.99 this morning - I hope it hasn't spiked again!

[smartyPantz]

Um...quickly.

[Dunerunner]

Prices here have been fairly stable around $3.96/g for 91 Octane. I expect that as a resort community, prices will be above $4.96 throughout the summer then trickle back down to $4.00. Should have bought oil futures instead of an RV, Duh!!

[jwight]

This morning it was as high as $3.95; this afternoon it's dropped to $3.85.

[deltadart]

This happened about a month ago and I still don't understand it. The price was $3.55 9/10(don't forget the 9/10-I'm sure the oil companies need that to survive!) Early in the morning one station raised it a dime to $3.65 9/10. The station across the street lowered theres to $3.48 9/10. Within the hour the other station lowered it to $3.48 9/10.
Also about 6 years ago a new Walmart was built and they had there own pumps. There price was always 6-10 cents cheaper than anyone else. They were reported(this is very true)and now they charge the same as the other stations. What I find amazing is when one station raises the price every station within 20 minutes will follow. Price fixing? NNOOoooo!! There was another sob story in the newspaper the other day saying the poor gas station owner sure isn't making much on a gallon of gas. Yeah. Right.