Global oil market operates through phone negotiations for price alignment worldwide.
Refineries' profitability surged due to retiring capacity and demand increase, hindering new construction.
Deep dives
Crude Oil Market Dynamics
Crude oil prices heavily influence gas prices, with a barrel of crude oil dictating a significant portion of the gasoline cost. The global oil market operates through phone negotiations among buyers, sellers, and brokers, ensuring prices align globally due to arbitrage. Tankers can adapt mid-shipment to secure better deals, maintaining price consistency worldwide.
Refining Costs Impact on Gas Prices
Refineries add approximately 65 cents to a gallon of gasoline through the refining process. Historically seen as unprofitable, refineries have surged in profit margins due to retiring capacity and increased demand. The complex refining process and high investment costs hinder new refinery construction, affecting current supply capacities.
Taxation and Pricing at Gas Stations
Additional costs, such as federal gas tax of 18.4 cents and state taxes averaging around 30 cents per gallon, contribute to the final gas price. Gas station owners, while not the major beneficiaries of high prices, experience profitability challenges with the sweet spot for profit at lower gas prices.
High gas prices have fueled speculation and investigations — is anyone raising prices and keeping prices high for profit? To find out, we break down the price of gas, piece by piece, to show you how we get to the price we see at the pump and how much everyone profits at each step of the way. | Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.