Tuesday 23 September 2008

Bargain Basement Prices


It was looking like I'd be scouring iPhoto for something to post as I'd been tied up most of Monday. But as I hung around beside this gas station waiting for the bus I had a brainwave.

Not long ago gas topped $1.50 a litre in Vancouver and, listening to the news, anyone would have thought it was the end of the world. Of course we went through exactly the same doom and gloom when gas first went over a dollar a litre. Now, thanks to the Syndicate of Greedy Bastards, the cost of petrol seems like a fairly minor issue.

Here's the math for those interested. We'll start with the assumption that I'll get it wrong.  

1 US gallon = 3.78 litres.

Let's forget about the exchange rate, I'm already getting a headache. 

Gas in Vancouver, at $1.30 / litre costs about $4.90 / US gallon.  

In the UK I'm going to guess the price per litre of petrol works out to around $9.00 / US gallon. 

What does gas cost in your city? It's a bargain in Vancouver at the moment.

15 comments :

Chuck Pefley said...

The price is a bargain if your definition of bargain is either (a) - less than yesterday, or (b) - less than somewhere else. No matter how you cut it, petrol is expensive.

I like the tilted angle you chose for this image.

Tanya Breese said...

It's at 3.66 right now here in Va at the Kroger. Before Ike, it was 3.33, which is disgusting that we considered that a bargain.

I hate to complain though knowing what other parts of the world is paying. But isn't it nice that the big oil companies are doing so well and our banks are failing?

Hope said...

During Ike, the gas in Knoxville went over $5.00 gallon. Now it's back down to $3.00 something.

Laurie Allee said...

I think ours was $4.85 the last time I filled up. It's come down from where it was earlier in the summer. I've always gotten the impression that a few oil bigshots sit around a table somewhere and say things like, "Well, how much will they give us today?" and that's where the prices come from. I saw a show on Nova about it and it seems I'm not far off.

I love your perspective in this shot, Wayne. A cockeyed look at a cockeyed situation.

Sharon said...

In Phoenix it's running around 3.60 per gallon coming down from around 4.25 about two months ago. Thank goodness I get to work from home most of the time. At close to 30 miles each way, my gas bill would be considerably more if I had to drive to work every day.

Virginia said...

Well I thought yours was $129 a gallon when I looked at your sign. I figured you took one look and fainted, hence the cockeyed angle. Here in B'ham the reg. was $3.99 at the neighborhood Stop and Rob. I applaud you for taking the bus.

Jill said...

I told my son: assume you get 20 mpg. Imagine having toll booths every 20 miles where you must stop and pay $4. Now do you still want to make that 100+ mile round trip to visit your friends for a few hours? Actually I think gas is about $3.65, well at least it was the other day...

Ken Mac said...

wayne, I know chandler. Who are the other writers among your faves?

Wayne said...

Thanks for all your comments.

Ken, I've just finished all Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series. I've read most if not all of Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer series. I haven't read any Robert Crais yet but I'm about to start and if he pulls me in there seems to be several in that series. I haven't tried Robert B. Parker (except Poodle Springs) yet but once I've made it through the LA Noir stuff I may give him a try.

I loved seeing Mr. Hulot's Holiday in your movie list. It's been high on my list of favourites for many years.

Sorry folks, we got seriously sidetracked here.

Debbie Courson Smith said...

It's funny that I NEVER really know what gas costs per gallon, I always think of it in terms of how much it costs to fill up. I can compare that in my accounting books - it used to be around $25-30, now it's over $50.

Gerald (SK14) said...

I just photographed the price here yesterday (pencilled in for posting on 4th Oct) and it was £1.07 per litre which is maybe £4 per gallon which is maybe $8 US per gallon - think it has just gone down here this week though due to supermarket competition.

Me? don't drive, don't care (not much anyhow)

Hilda said...

Sigh. Looks like our gasoline's actually more expensive than yours. Which is pretty bad considering that the minimum wage here in Metro Manila is less than Can$10.

Wayne said...

Hilda, is that $10.00 / day?

Anonymous said...

Gerald, £1.07 a litre? I haven't bought petrol for a while (my other half gets tax relief on it so he buys it), but last time I looked it was £1.20something.

Copenhagen said...

It was $1.16/L when I left home this afternoon, but it quickly changed to $1.28 when I reached downtown.

It all happened within 30 minutes!