OPINION: Just blame Joe ... not me, the other Joe

Jul. 20—Over the years the question I get the most is about the price of gas.

"You should do a story about high gas prices."

I hear that a lot.

I try to explain to people if I could figure out the price of gas, I wouldn't be working here. I would be in a Fifth Avenue office overlooking New York City.

Here's how The New York Times explains it in a nutshell:

"Gas prices in the United States are at record highs. And even when adjusting for inflation, they are on average at levels rarely seen in the last 50 years, including during the energy crisis of the late 1970s. When fuel prices go up, consumers are hurt directly at the pump, but also indirectly when higher transportation costs raise prices on everything from food to diapers to construction materials.

"The single biggest factor driving the spike now is the price of crude oil. As of April, according to the Energy Information Administration, the cost of the raw material accounted for 60 percent of the price of a gallon of regular gasoline. That compares to 52 percent the same time a year ago, and just 25 percent in April 2020 — when the pandemic sapped demand for fuel, along with most other goods and commodities."

It goes on and on. There are so many variables.

And Joe Biden ... is he to blame? If he was to blame when prices went up, is he the one we thank when prices go down?

Ask 100 different experts and you might get 100 different answers.

I remember when I was a kid growing up in Livonia, Mich., and we had a gas station on each corner at 8 Mile and Farmington roads.

You could watch as the price would drop a penny at one station and the others would follow.

That was a real gas war.

Back then the difference between five and 10 cents was a big deal.

Now, prices are all over the place.

We took a road trip back in June for a wedding in Milwaukee.

We got as far as the last plaza on the Indiana Turnpike to fill up. I paid $5.59 per gallon — the most I ever paid for gas. I got 10.205 gallons for a hefty $57.04.

Last Friday we headed to Avon to pick up our grandchildren from school. Before I left I used my Circle K card (10 cents off a gallon) and paid $4.36 per gallon in Norwalk. After we picked up the kids I saw another Circle K station in Avon and topped off my tank at $3.89 per gallon with my card.

I felt like I was stealing gas.

The average price for gasoline across Northeast Ohio is 22 cents lower this week at $4.376 per gallon, according to AAA East Central's Gas Price Report.

This week's average prices: Northeast Ohio Average — $4.376

Average price during the week of July 11, 2022 — $4.591

Average price during the week of July 19, 2021 — $3.087

We are paying $1.29 more per gallon today than we did at this time last year.

And right now we feel good about it.

In Norwalk the average price Tuesday was $4.49 per gallon. In Willard it was $4.65. In Cleveland it is $4.38.

A big question I always get is why is gas so much cheaper in Bellevue and Sandusky than it is in Norwalk?

The gas at Circle K in Bellevue Tuesday was $4.23 (without the Circle K card). In Norwalk without the card it was $4.36.

A gallon of gas Tuesday at Meijer in Sandusky was $4.17. If you are a member at Sam's Club you could get it for $4.06 a gallon.

The national average for a gallon of gas has fallen 15 cents over the last week to $4.52, according to AAA. This week's national average is 46 cents less than a month ago and $1.36 more than a year ago. The recent price decline is due to lower domestic demand for gasoline at the pump and a much lower global price for oil. The cost of a barrel of oil is around $100, down from $110 two weeks ago.

AAA reports new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand dropped from 9.41 million barrels per day to 8.06 million barrels per day last week, while total domestic gas stocks increased by 5.8 million barrels. The decrease in demand and declining oil prices have helped push pump prices down.

Crude prices increased slightly at the end of the week due to the market expecting crude supply to remain tight throughout summer. Tightening of supply is being driven by the potential for slower economic growth due to rising interest rates and inflation. Declining crude demand, due to reduced economic activity, could lead prices to follow suit.

So there you have it.

If you want another answer just Google "why are gas prices so high" and scroll down the screen.

If you find the real answer let me know.

Everybody else wants to know.

Joe Centers is Reflector community editor. He can be reached at jcenters@norwalkreflector.com.