Why are Gas Prices So Expensive?
As you note, fuel prices are not expensive in the US in comparison to the rest of the world. You need to look externally for international issues like this. The price rises are due to OPEC manipulations and so on, and also price adjustments to make US prices for crude closer to par with other countries. Also there is the burgeoning demand from China, and soon India, and this is beyond US influence. I note people here complaining about OPEC influence. OPEC is designed to safeguard the 12 member states’ interests, and there should be no problem with this, otherwise customers can behave as the price-makers as they do with many other resources. As with the European Union, the US cannot be a member, and there is fear of the power of these trading blocs. The rest of the world deals with much higher prices for fuel, and US trade barriers, so the US needs to cope with protective organisations like OPEC in return. It is also the only way that we can get fuel for the prices we currently pay. If