Petrol Prices - I don't get it...

[oceanscape]

Sorry for the stupid question but perhaps someone who understands about these things can explain this to me. In the USA, recenty petrol prices have plumetted from $4.00/gallon to under $2.50. That's almost a 50% drop.

Why haven't our petrol prices fallen anywhere near as much, and why are we paying the equivalent of $8+/gallon?

 

[fuse04]

whilst I don't know the 'proper' answer to your question, I did see something a couple of years ago that as far as retail is concerned the UK has a nickname "Treasure Island". Apparently this is because retailers can charge much higher prices than many other countries whether it be cars, fuel, electronic media etc, etc.

 

[tashasmum]

Reason our's doesn't drop as quick is that they know we pay and don't kick up a fuss like the Americans.

Also don't forget over 75% of our fuel cost is tax for Mr Brown and his croonies. Not sure what they use it for, cause the roads are terrible, public transport is terrible, NHS needs more money, Schools need more money, so it must be going somewhere.

Rant Over.

 

[oceanscape]

I know, it really annoys me. We just don't seem to kick up much fuss about it in this country, IMO. In the US there is no way they would stand for such crazy prices.

 

[fuse04]

Reason our's doesn't drop as quick is that they know we pay and don't kick up a fuss like the Americans.
.

That was also going through my mind, generally we british are prepared to put up with much before we kick up a fuss, unlike USA and the french. I was talking with a cabbie last year when we were at WDW about the price of fuel; he suggested we just need to vote for another political party....

Also with the election coming up in a couple of weeks the politicians will not want to upset the voters.

 

[HeresYourEars]

whilst I don't know the 'proper' answer to your question, I did see something a couple of years ago that as far as retail is concerned the UK has a nickname "Treasure Island". Apparently this is because retailers can charge much higher prices than many other countries whether it be cars, fuel, electronic media etc, etc.

Well, first of all our government imposes a very low tax on our gasoline compared with the UK, which stays the same regardless of the price per gallon. From what I understand, the tax in the UK rises with the price per gallon. I think your government keeps the price artificially high so they can squeeze more tax out of you.

That's just my take on it.

 

[natalielongstaff]

whilst I don't know the 'proper' answer to your question, I did see something a couple of years ago that as far as retail is concerned the UK has a nickname "Treasure Island". Apparently this is because retailers can charge much higher prices than many other countries whether it be cars, fuel, electronic media etc, etc.

Reason our's doesn't drop as quick is that they know we pay and don't kick up a fuss like the Americans.

Also don't forget over 75% of our fuel cost is tax for Mr Brown and his croonies. Not sure what they use it for, cause the roads are terrible, public transport is terrible, NHS needs more money, Schools need more money, so it must be going somewhere.

Rant Over.

Well, first of all our government imposes a very low tax on our gasoline compared with the UK, which stays the same regardless of the price per gallon. From what I understand, the tax in the UK rises with the price per gallon. I think your government keeps the price artificially high so they can squeeze more tax out of you.

That's just my take on it.

all true, we brits get taken for a fool every time !

 

[emily1982]

It's like anything, people pay for it, so therefore the prices won't come down.

 

[tennisfan]

We are taxed a lot on the fuel compared to the US but a US gallon is smaller then a UK gallon. Having said that if it was worked out on a like for like basis we would still be paying more.

 

[Netty]

just come back from florida yesterday, while there saw there we saw the price of regular gas go from $3.07 down to $2.05 within 2 weeks. Although garages had different rates so worth looking for the cheapest.
Pity the price fall isnt the same in rip off Britain