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GasBuddy News Article

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When it pays to gas up

South Bend Tribune -- Analysis finds pattern to timing of price increases.

According to an analysis of the past 13 months of gas prices in the South Bend region -- data compiled by GasBuddy.com, which tracks gas prices nationally -- there is a pattern to when gas prices climb and fall.

In the past year, the data shows, gas prices are most likely to increase in the middle of the week -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- and stay relatively stable on weekends.

As a general rule, gas prices go up much faster than they come down.

Of the 48 times gas prices increased in the last year, more than 80 percent of the time the increases lasted only 2 days before the price started to decline. Only three times -- once for a period of 4 days, once for 5 days -- did gas prices continue to climb more than 2 days in a row.


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Submitted Feb 04, 2012 By: OmeGas
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: When it pays to gas up Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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99dakota
Champion Author Providence

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Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 6:07:51 AM

up fast, down slow
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SavingInNC
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 5:48:49 AM

True
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RonTheRunner77
Veteran Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 3:47:39 AM

I fill up when the tank is empty, never worried a ton about it might be 2 cents more per gallon if i fill up at the wrong time.
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roadrunnin
Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 2:45:19 AM

probably aren't going to see much lower prices any time soon
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joekayak
All-Star Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 11:52:49 PM

When gas is going up,fill your tank because the next time you gas up the price will be higher.
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GT3186
Champion Author Salem

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 8:16:00 PM

I use my GasBuddy App to find the best prices when I want to buy gas; but other than that, I don't try to discover a price cycle during the week.
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eye-spy
Champion Author Quebec

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 7:47:31 PM

Just play the BIG OIL LOTTERY.

I play their game and gas up when the price is the lowest.

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PathfinderSC
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 6:48:30 PM

A good Article.
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BJWI
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 5:00:38 PM

Entering and checking prices on GasBuddy daily helps me save a few cents per gallon each time I fill-up. I also try to fill up when I need a 1/4 of a tank. Spending $15.00 or less to fill-up is a lot easier on my mind and wallet than the $55.00 or more it costs when I am almost empty.
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KAR120CSII
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 2:51:37 PM

Good post.
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blupupher
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 2:08:51 PM

Yup, I watch prices and notice a similar thing.
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StArrow68
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:14:40 PM

And with the current trend up it pays to keep the tanks mostly full.
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clpassenubye
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:02:54 PM

interesting
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clpassenubye
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:02:40 PM

interesting
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335d1
All-Star Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 10:51:31 AM

A nice shout out to GasBuddy.
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paulp24
Champion Author Harrisburg

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 10:37:27 AM

Good stuff
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lesandliz
Sophomore Author New Orleans

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 9:04:20 AM

Duh
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gs7101
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 8:59:57 AM

This suggestion isn't news!
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Mark8601
Veteran Author Bakersfield

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 8:36:08 AM

Don't forget holidays!
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mike1881
All-Star Author Fayetteville

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 8:13:07 AM

Of course. Gas always goes up quickly and takes forever to come down. I should be a reporter.
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the1roadhog
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 7:20:46 AM

Capt Obvious report.
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GasPriceHelp4u
All-Star Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 7:17:58 AM

Lots of good consumer information as to when to gas up. Thanks for the people that took time to study and publish these results. I will definitely follow the advice. Gas Buddy is my real buddy though!!!
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gawxnative
All-Star Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 7:04:06 AM

Same basic thing in Metro Atlanta, with Quik Trip, and Racetrac being the major drivers of price in most areas of Metro.
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WalRus49
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 5:36:25 AM

More organized mayhem and pillage.........
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kenji554
All-Star Author Charlotte

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 5:16:29 AM

Interesting. I use Gas Buddy's favorite feature to find the cheapest price for diesel. I have saved as much as 20 cents per gallon by planning my fill ups accordingly. Having a 600 mile tank range helps too.
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SBlouch
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 3:10:31 AM

Very interesting article which tells us some of the reasons the prices have gone up and down.
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Road-Runner
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 2:12:36 AM

So where's the competition? None! The market is fixed.
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el_fr
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 1:17:11 AM

I see gas going up on Saturdays.
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nurdco
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 1:03:20 AM

Weekend Greed hits Thursday afternoon... Thru Monday noontime
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feldos
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:17:14 AM

I always try to fill up on Sunday or Monday unless prices are heading down
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amerk73
Champion Author Dallas

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Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:02:38 AM

oil want down gas want up
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must87searcher
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:56:05 PM

This is interesting. Of course, this are still possibilities for mistakes. Prices in locations can still vary.
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joekayak
All-Star Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:36:15 PM

Good to know.
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Throroughbred
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:27:37 PM

Most increases in the Cleveland, Ohio area take place on a Tuesday or Thursday. Our last was this past Thursday, 2-2-2012 and jumped 15 to 20 cents a gallon to 3.55. Today, Saturday, a lot went down about 15 cents and several never increased???? 3.26 and 3.39
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livable1
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:16:22 PM

just vlower the prices.
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asog75
All-Star Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:11:05 PM

I think that thursday is the favorite day
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Fute
Sophomore Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:52:25 PM

Patter here is up on Thursday or Friday for the weekend and then down on Mon, Tues, and Wednesday.
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lesndave
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:49:13 PM

Interesting, but that does seem to be the pattern.
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Nicoalbum
Champion Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:42:12 PM

You really have to bend
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amoshins
All-Star Author Trenton

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:32:08 PM

Interesting - so I'll gas up on Sun or Mon
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Cashless
Champion Author Akron

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:18:02 PM

Gas almost always goes up on Thursday here in Akron, Ohio. I fill up just before.
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djliberty
All-Star Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:45:09 PM

interesting stuff!
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Vette1967
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:34:45 PM

You have a better chance of predicting the Lotto.
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BobBG
Veteran Author Albany

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:24:38 PM

I always fill up when prices are rising because I assume that I will pay more the next time. When I see prices are falling I buy just enough for the next 3 or 4 days because it will be cheaper next time.
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investmentdr
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:12:07 PM

the mid week aspect of this article is gibberish. simply add $0.70 to price of gas found at wsj.com. if the pump price is less, fill up. if its more, wait.
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Wanda127
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:41:57 PM

I try to keep my car full & a couple of extra gas cans when the prices are low. But when they are high I try not to drive too much & I don't always fill my tank if they look like they might being going down soon.
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kujiyukiyumi
Veteran Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:41:50 PM

need more reliable prediction for any rise in gas prices...than mere gut instinct.
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07skydriver
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:36:14 PM

Just stay home.
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Martinman
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:19:04 PM

I noticed this pattern several years ago (and posted it here):

- If the Tuesday morning API Analysts Survey predicts a drop in one or more inventory categories, prices start increasing around 1030 (10:30 AM CDT/CST) Tuesday morning, shortly after the API survey hits the newswire;

- If the Wednesday mid-day EIA (actual) Inventory Report shows a larger drop than the API Survey in one or more inventory categories and prices did not jump on Tuesday, prices jump Wednesday afternoon, almost immediately after the report is released;

- If neither the API nor the EIA survey/report reported inventory decreases in one or more inventory categories and there has been no price-spike, but the price of crude oil has made a move higher, the prices jump on Thursday.

This type of Edgeworth cycling in pricing hurts those consumers that typically "gas-up" on Pay-day, which for most Americans is Thursday or Friday. This pattern of weekly cycling also results in higher prices over the weekend, when most people take short trips and run most errands for the week.

I saw a modified version of this while stationed in the south. In several cities, the Murphy USA stations would raise gas before the morning rush hour, hitting those motorists that 'gas-up" on their way to work. In some instances it was a daily occurrence, with the morning "spike" occurring around 0630 (6:30 AM).

Don't you just love, Corporate America !
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bl626
Veteran Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:08:30 PM

I'll fill up when the price is low, even if it's just a 1/4 tank and even will fill up my 2 separate 5 gal jugs when it's below $3-3.20 to hold me on for the next "less expensive" cycle.

Now let's get it straight, prices don't go up because of political instability, it is for pure speculation and pointing at fingers mainly!
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