# When will (US) gasoline hit $4.00/gallon? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149 "2006-04-18T12:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/21 "2006-04-19T02:46:10Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > I expect to be paying $4.00 for premium sometime this summer. Heh, childs play. I’m looking at $4.09/gal for premium just outside my window _right now_. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/22 "2006-04-19T04:46:40Z")
$4.00 US average - August 15, 2006. Premium is already $3.359 here in Maryland, at least at the expensive Exxon station on Rockville Pike. Bonus prediction: $5.00 US average - August 15, 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/23 "2006-04-19T05:32:54Z")
Damn, talk about a bunch of pessimists! I deliberately put my guess way out into the future just to counter some of you guys… but damn! Major hurricanes notwithstanding, if it hits $4 in 2006 I’ll… well I’ll do _something_. :mad: (but I still won’t sell my SUV :wally ) (it’s a jeep cherokee, it gets 18mpg. We drive maybe 30 miles/week) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/24 "2006-04-19T12:04:27Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > I assume we’re talking about regular? Becuase I drove by a station today that was selling premium for $3.25… > > I think we Californians will be paying $5.00 per gallon before the rest of the country averages $4.00… > > I expect to be paying $4.00 for premium sometime this summer. Yeah, REGULAR was in the OP. And as a national average, not just in some place where the gas is abnormally high priced like California or Hawaii. So far **JC** ’s link is the best I’ve seen to use as a basis and it only give it as a weekly price, so unless I find a better site with daily tracking average for the nation I’ll use that and we’ll see where the weeks fall. In the case of a tie then I’ll favor the person who picked in that week first, but I’ll be as accomodating as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/25 "2006-04-19T13:05:33Z")
My guess is July 14th, 2006. Gotta let people drive a lot over the 4th holiday - then slap 'em down hard just when they think they’re safe. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/26 "2006-04-19T13:23:36Z")
> [@LiveOnAPlane](#): > > I’m guessing never. > > If it approaches that point, I predict that the definition of a “Gallon” will be changed to something like 7 litres. Or we’ll finally switch over to the metric system so that it looks cheaper. After Katrina some older gas stations in PA who’s pumps could go over $3.00/gallon got dispensation to sell gas by the half-gallon. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/27 "2006-04-19T13:28:24Z")
Or you could start selling your petrol by the litre (which makes more sense than by the gallon, at least to me…) At the moment petrol is AUD$1.28/litre here, which is about USD$3.60/gallon, I recall someone saying in a different but related thread. The Australian Economy hasn’t collapsed yet- there will be serious problems when it gets to AUD$3 or $4 _per litre_, though… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/28 "2006-04-19T16:17:36Z")
[April 19, 2006](http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/410113p-346997c.html) ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/29 "2006-04-19T16:45:31Z")
I’m going to guess never as well. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/30 "2006-04-19T17:27:22Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > [April 19, 2006](http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/410113p-346997c.html) Nice try. You lose. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/31 "2006-04-19T18:38:00Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > September 9, 2009 I’d just like to second 09/09/09 being that 9 is my favorite number. Check that. Gasoline will by $9.99/gallon by 09//09/09, and $4/gallon by 09/09/06, which, actually, I don’t think is not out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/32 "2006-04-19T18:50:09Z")
Gas in my city (in Canada) was $1.149 per liter this morning. Which works out to $4.35 CAN per gallon. Way too f’ing much if you ask me. I still don’t know why my country can’t be more self sufficient when it comes to petroleum. MtM ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/33 "2006-04-19T19:47:43Z")
> [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](#): > > Gas in my city (in Canada) was $1.149 per liter this morning. > > Which works out to $4.35 CAN per gallon. > > Way too f’ing much if you ask me. > > I still don’t know why my country can’t be more self sufficient when it comes to petroleum. > > MtM Don’t you export the stuff? Maybe you need to join OPEC and/or declare Jihad on the USA? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/34 "2006-04-19T20:01:43Z")
> [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](#): > > Gas in my city (in Canada) was $1.149 per liter this morning. > > Which works out to $4.35 CAN per gallon. US gallon (3.8 litres) or Canadian (that is, Imperial) gallon (4.5 litres)? > [@](#): > > I still don’t know why my country can’t be more self sufficient when it comes to petroleum. Why? NAFTA. We are not allowed to reduce exports unilaterally, even to conserve fuel for our own use. The only way we can reduce exports is if we reduce domestic use proportionately. [Cite](http://www.fcnp.com/602/peakoil.htm): > [@](#): > > Another article of NAFTA known popularly as “proportional sharing” says that if Canada should ever want to conserve or be forced to cut back on oil or gas production, it must, under NAFTA, continue exporting to the US the same proportion of its total supply (production + imports) that was exported during the previous three years. Mexico , also a party to NAFTA, received an exemption from these clauses in return for other concessions. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/35 "2006-04-19T21:03:45Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > US gallon (3.8 litres) or Canadian (that is, Imperial) gallon (4.5 litres)? Well the OP was in the states so US gallon of course. > [@Sunspace](#): > > Why? NAFTA. > > We are not allowed to reduce exports unilaterally, even to conserve fuel for our own use. The only way we can reduce exports is if we reduce domestic use proportionately. [Cite](http://www.fcnp.com/602/peakoil.htm): Well GW Bush doesn’t believe in NAFTA (I’m referring to the $1 Billion+ that the US still owes Canada from illegal tariffs on our softwood lumber imports to the states) so why should we? And **ShibbOleth** I believe we are already a member of OPEC… MtM ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/36 "2006-04-19T21:18:18Z")
> [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](#): > > Well the OP was in the states so US gallon of course. > > Well GW Bush doesn’t believe in NAFTA (I’m referring to the $1 Billion+ that the US still owes Canada from illegal tariffs on our softwood lumber imports to the states) so why should we? > > And **ShibbOleth** I believe we are already a member of OPEC… > > MtM I knew we could bring softwood lumber into it. 🙂 OPEC = Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Venezuela. Membership requires just that you be a net exporter, but on their website it says it’s for “developing countries” and I think Canada is well out of the training bra phase. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/37 "2006-04-19T23:14:17Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > I’m going to guess never as well. On what do you base that? Inflation alone will get it there in about 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/38 "2006-04-20T04:11:50Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > US gallon (3.8 litres) or Canadian (that is, Imperial) gallon (4.5 litres)? As of 10 seconds ago, [Google says](http://www.google.ca/search?hs=jak&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&q=4+US+dollars+per+US+gallon+in+canadian++dollars+per+litre&btnG=Search&meta=) that > [@Google Calculator](#): > > 4 (U.S. dollars per US gallon) = 1.20906276 Canadian dollars per litre The station outside my office window in Nisku (home to at least a dozen oil servicing companies, not that it makes a difference) was this afternoon offering 99.7 ¢/l ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/39 "2006-04-20T12:00:33Z")
Note: I’m sure that the price of gasoline, outside of the USA, has already hit $4 per gallon. This contest is not open to the reading comprehension impaired or the helplessly pedantic. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149/40 "2006-04-20T12:16:18Z")
Well, that screws US then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-us-gasoline-hit-4-00-gallon/353149.md?page=3)