zcct04

Ten years ago, with gas at about $3.00/gal, gasoline retailers in Texas maintained about a 20 cent price differential for premium: if regular was at $3.09.9, premium was at 3.29.9. That margin eventually doubled and over the last couple of years, the differential has been at 40 cents. Within the last couple of weeks, almost every station in our area has jumped that to a 60 cent margin. All of my cars demand premium - this really chaps me.

Is this a local issue, or is the 60 cent differential between regular and premium showing up all over the country?

Anyone here in the refining industry? Is the change in pricing due to a 3X shift in the cost for making premium fuel? Or is this just a program from marketing to screw the premium fuel buyers who don't have a choice?

AMGonFire

Same for me here in Illinois except it's almost a dollar difference here. Been going up for last year now

Adi-Benz

Ours in WI was about 50c but as of recent has been about 70/80c+.

93 octane

SaphGreyC63

While our regular gas is probably more expensive here in CA, premium only demands 20 cents more. This is for 91 octane.

C63fora2w1

It's about 30c difference here in Albuquerque.. regular is going from 197-207 and premium was 2.36 at last fill-up

todthedod

Here in upstate SC, 93 octane is $2.49 which is about a .40 difference

AMGonFire

Well I'm paying a premium just paid 3.20 for 93 87 is around 2.25 2.35 can't wait till I can put e85 in for 1.82 and gain power mpgs who cares

Adi-Benz

Lol and get 6mpg

saint13

You think E85 MPG would be that bad?

I've heard E85 is ballpark 20% less efficient so he'd still be doing pretty well if E85 is 40%+ cheaper but not so much if it nets 50% worse efficiency

AMGonFire

my guess is around 12 mpg vs my normal 16

zcct04

Ouch! What's you location?

AMGonFire

chicago suburbs

TheInfamousDrew

Where in the upstate do you live?
I'm in Lake Wylie, just outside of Charlotte.

Agreed. Around here 87 is $1.89 and 93 is 2.50.

I've been *****ing about this for a while now and wasn't sure if it was just me or not. lol

Sick AF

$3.59 for 93 here in Miami

$2.99 for 87; $.60 difference

pjw1967

87 was $1.94 and 93 was $2.24 at Costco this morning in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston.

looney100

I work in the industry in Canada. Spreads between regular and premium have grown here as well. It's been a few years since I've been close to things, but I know that the blend components to add octane are in tight supply here. I suspect the same may be the case in the US. With tougher fuel economy regulations, manufacturers are moving to turbocharging and higher compression to improve mileage - creating more demand for premium fuels.

QuartzBlueP31

Yea I am in NC and noticed it took a big jump about 4 months ago. Was 10-13 cents but jumped to about 60 cents difference per gallon.