[TheForge] OT--Gas prices, gas shortages, price gouging?

[DaveS]

Here in northeast Alabama the price jumped 20 cents up to $3.65 at the local Wally world from yesterday. Other stations have raised their prices 40 to 50 cents a gallon and I saw prices of $3.99 to $4.09 down the highway.  Guess they think they need to charge "possible replacement cost" for the gasoline in their tanks rather than price it at a normal profit above what they paid for it.  I know that the gasoline presently in the tank farms and pipelines does not justify the jump in prices so I guess someone figures to make a wee bit more profit based on rumors and scare tactics.  And yes, the local tv news station in Huntsville was reporting the $5.00 per gallon story like it was carved in stone.