[PTinVT]

I live in Burlington, VT which had the distinction of having the highest gas prices in the country in December. We've always been high up here, even relative to places not terribly far away... not sure how much of it is taxes or (more likely) the collusion of the few wholesale distributors we have up here, but putting aside the "absolute" magnitude of the price for a bit:

How much of a difference do you see between 87/89/93? Up here very few places sell 91 or 92. I remember that forever it was $x for regular, $x+0.10 for "mid-grade" and $x+0.20 for premium. And it seemed to stay that way until gas broke $3. As it's gone up and down, premium seemed to stay high while regular dropped further. Right now, around the corner, gas goes for $2.30 for regular and $3.00 for premium. When I travel I often still see it like 2.45/2.55/2.65, not 2.45/2.75/3.05 like I"m used to seeing up here. Before it dropped crazy a few months ago, it was still usually like $3.50/$3.70/$4.00 here.

What do you typically see for the "spread" of lowest to premium gas on a station sign, where you are?

[shadow191]

A long time ago in GA, the spread was always $.10 per grade, so premium was $.20 more than regular. Then when gas prices went up a few years ago, the spread became $.15 per grade. Then some gas stations were charging $.20 per grade spread. These days most of the corporate owned gas stations like Quiktrip and Racetrak typically do $.15 per grade. And Costco is similar in that premium is $.30 more than regular.

But a lot of the little mom and pop gas stations do crazy stuff. I saw one in N. GA that charged $.60 more for premium than regular. Regular was $1.99 and premium was $2.59. And one by my house has about a $.50 spread between regular and premium. The shady part is that they only list the regular price, they replaced the other 2 prices with "Car Wash". And at night, they don't turn the price sign on. They're the only gas station on that corner, and it's a busy corner so they get away with it.

Officially though, I read an article in Bloomberg that stated that premium prices aren't dropping as fast because the grade of oil used isn't what the US produces from all the shale drilling, it's a higher quality oil and the price is still higher. But all types of oil prices are tanking, so I'm not sure how much that argument is valid.

[Douche]

Bigger difference here: .80 a litre regular, .99 a litre premium. Midgrade I never look.

[Antetokounmpo]

It used to be 10 cent increments here too, in a Milwaukee suburb, but now it's 20 cent increments here too. But driving through, let's just say area's you wouldn't want your water pump to fail in, it's like 40 cent increments because nobody buys premium there.

[blingman]

Here in Dallas, TX its 15 cent more per grade, so 30 cent from regular to premium at race track, QT, and others. The bigger name like Chevron and Shell will charge 20 cent more per grade.

[Douche]

You guys don't realise how lucky you are with these low gas prices... Lol

[bbbuzzy]

The spread in prices (Reg-Prem) in the towns north of Boston (Essex County) ranges from $0.30 at the fairer places up to $0.60 at the gougers. I really dislike the gougers as I only use 93. My reg place is currently about $1.99 for reg and $2.39 for premium.

[bender rodriguez]

I remember there were gas stations here on Friday would sale Premium for the same price as mid grade.

[Nitrousbird]

It used to always be a 20 cent spread from Regular to Premium. Then 30 became the norm...though typically 89 was only 10 cents more than 87. Now it is either 30 or 40 cents for the spread.

I did score a 20 cent spread last week, but it was 92 octane instead of 93. Luckily it is winter and my JB4 had not arrived yet.

[robthewrench]

I use a gas buddy app on my iphone since it will show me the reported prices for premium. Most gas stations signs don't show premium and many of them alter the mark-up over regular between $.20 and $.40 cents.

In my area, both Costco and Kroger consistently stay with a $.20 markup over regular.

Shell is usually the worst at a $.40 markup. Others seem to move around but generally are at $.30.

[ef11]

I've seen as much as an 80 cent spread at Shell stations in Houston with regular being $2.20 and premium being $3.00. Absolutely ridiculous.

I feel like when I first started driving 10 years ago it was always around $0.10 difference per grade but in Houston it seems to always be at least 20-25 cents difference at the Shell stations.

[///Mposter]

I was complaining about this the other day. Some gas station by my work had an 80 cent spread from regular to premium. $1.99 , $2.49, $2.79. It wasn't until I had already swiped and had to press the button twice to activate that I noticed the spread. Filled with one gallon and went to one near my house where it was 0.45 cents cheaper for premium.
I remember the days of only 10 cents between grades.

[hockeyplayer]

Its a wonderful time to invest in oil stocks.

[1chanc3]

The rest of the US is pretty low compared to CA. Since Jan 1 2015, CA implemented the gas and cap tax, which could add up to $0.75/gallon to our petrol.

It's stupid because they're trying to reduce emissions so they hope that raising prices will reduce gas usage by deterring people from driving, but in reality, its going to raise the prices of everything! Produce prices will go up (farmers use petrol for their trucks/tractors/equipment), postal service price will increase, clothes and everything requiring delivery will also go up.

But its not as bad as some countries in Europe who pay close to 1.4 euros/liter (translates to ~$6/gal)

[melloww22]

91- Shell 2.79 in San Diego

[JeM9]

Originally Posted by melloww22

91- Shell 2.79 in San Diego

Up in Carlsbad I'm paying $2.54 for premium at the Shell on Palomar Airport Rd.

[drewnel22]

Usually $0.40 total spread here, sometimes $0.30.