With more bad news, we just had a refinery fire at a BP facility in Indiana. Those of us in the Midwest can expect even higher gasoline prices and increased price volatility beyond those from the Venezuelan strike and the impending conflict in Iraq. Regular over $2.00? $2.50? Just have to wait and see.
BTW, with a few exceptions don't blame the guy that owns the gas station. Margins are already typically below 10-cents per gallon and when these situation happen it is not uncommon to see gasoline being sold at cost since the "company" stores often have a street price less than the marketer can get at the supply rack. The industry is even broadly looking at a zero margin on gasoline by 2005, hoping for store and car wash sales to make the money.
Charon