'U.S. oil prices look reassuringly calm till you look below the surface.
At first blush, a replay of the 2008 gas price spike seems far fetched. The biggest driver of U.S. gasoline prices is the cost of crude oil, and near-month oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange have sat out the scorching commodities rally. They lately fetched $85, some 40% below the crisis peak.
But that's where the good news ends for motorists -- and for a U.S. economy that is sputtering even with gas at $3.15 a gallon.
Much of the oil being made into gasoline now actually costs $105 a barrel. For this we can blame a few of the usual suspects – try Middle East unrest and strong overseas economic growth – and one new one, a weak link in the U.S. petroleum supply chain.
Those factors make the Nymex price "irrelevant for the price of U.S. gasoline," says Olivier Jacob, who runs the Petromatrix trading advice firm in Zug, Switzerland.
Even the government agrees. Last week it projected a 1-in-3 chance the gas price will break $3.50 this summer and a 1-in-10 chance it will hit $4. And if anything those estimates may understate how fragile the balance is."
CNN
So it's going to cost more to drive our cars this year. And the cost of food is going through the roof, even before the additional cost of transportation due to increased fuel cost is added in. And the cost of clothing is set to skyrocket. Yet, to listen to the government and all the smiling investor class shills on Fox Business everything's rosy. The market's up and inflation's under control. Really?
If the price of oil climbs, as it seems it must, what affect will it have on the economy? Consider the items on the list below. Everyone of these has oil as a component. And every one of them was made in a factory that relied on oil or petroleum products to make these items, even in ways we don't normally think about, like the insulation wrapping the wires that carry the power to the work stations. And each one was transported using petroleum as the energy source to move them along. Then look at the list and think how many of these finished products become part of other products; plastic for containers and shipping product, fertilizer to grow food and on and on, each adding another layer of inflation to the final product because the price of each was affected by the price of oil.
Think of how each of these things touch your life and realize that this is only a partial list.
Do you really think that pushing all these questionable green technologies, such as electric cars, will really solve the problem, especially when real green solutions are decades away? Is there any substitute for oil if we want to continue to live the way we do?
If we can't afford oil doesn't that mean our way of life will change, and for the worse?
Do you still believe that everything will be alright, that there is nothing to worry about as long as the market keeps going up?
What are you doing to prepare?
• plastic ties
• row cover
• irrigation piping
• polyethylene
• polypropylene
• bags and packaging
• pesticides and herbicides
• food preservatives
• fertilizers
• ballet tights
• nylon cord
• everything polyester: blouses, pants, pajamas etc.
• everything permanent press: shirts, dresses etc.
• beads
• bracelets
• pantyhose
• nylon zippers
• plastic hangers
• purses
• thongs and flip flops
• earrings
• ribbons
• fake fur
• windbreakers
• sandals
• garment bags
• shoe laces
• rain coats
• iron-on patches
• sneakers
• sweaters
• sofa pillow material• tote bags
• umbrellas
• ball point pens
• diskettes
• thermometer
• Ink
• computers
• business card holders
• copiers
• waste baskets
• calculators
• printer cartridges
• microfilm
• name tags
• binders
• erasers
• rulers
• scotch tape
• magic markers
• telephones
• backpacks
• fishing lures
• air mattresses
• cameras
• beach balls
• fishing poles
• hang gliders
• vinyl cases
• footballs
• glue containers
• puzzles
• darts
• Frisbees
• golf ball and golf bags
• shotgun shells
• ear plugs
• knitting needles• waterproof clothing
• stadium cushions
• earphones
• yarn
• kites
• tennis racquets
• fabric dye
• decoys
• lifejackets
• nylon strings
• face protectors
• volley balls
• model cars
• plastic water guns
• fishing bobbers
• soccer balls
• oil paints
• parachutes
• fishing cylume
• light sticks
• earphones
• playing cards
• photographs
• monofilament fishing lines
• diving boards
• poker chips
• goggles
• rollerskate and skateboard wheels
• whistles
• guitar strings
• picks
• rafts
• ice chests
• tents
• sleeping bags
• pole vaulting poles
• motorcycle helmets
• skis, water skis
• rubber cement
• plastic flowerpots
• hot tub covers
• sails
• snorkels• monkey bars
• photo albums
• wet suits
• flippers
• tennis balls
• boats
• insulated boots
• acrylic toys
• baby oil
• laundry baskets
• waterproof pants
• baby aspirin
• bath soap
• mittens
• pacifiers
• baby blankets
• bibs
• rattles
• doubleknit shirts
• baby bottles
• disposable diapers
• baby shoes
• teething rings
• nipples and binkies
• dolls
• stuffed animals
• baby lotion
• allergy medication
• cotton-tipped swabs
• inhalers
• liquid Pepto-Bismol
• aspirin
• first aid cream
• lancets
• pill cases
• band aids
• first aid kits• latex gloves
• prescription bottles
• burn lotion
• glycerin
• mosquito spray
• rubbing alcohol
• chap stick
• heart valve replacement
• nasal decongestant
• surgical tape
• syringes
• Vaseline
• antiseptics
• hearing aids
• anesthetics
• artificial limbs
• eyeglasses and sunglasses
• antihistamines
• cortisone
• vaporizers
• denture adhesives
• laxatives
• Bactine
• oxygen masks
• stethoscopes
• prescription glasses
• cough syrup
• hearing aids
• vinegar bottles
• egg cartons
• meat trays
• trash bags
• breadboxes
• freezer containers
• melamine dishware
• tumblers
• cake decorations
• jars
• microwave dishes
• utensils• candles
• freezer bags
• milk jugs
• vacuum bottles
• coasters
• gelatin molds
• nylon spatulas
• wax paper
• coffee pots
• ice cream scoops
• oven bags
• mops
• drinking cups
• ice trays
• plastic containers
• fabric softener
• detergent bottles
• plastic table service
• drain stoppers
• dish drainers
• lunch boxes
• pudding molds
• sponges
• dish scrubbers
• brushes
• baggies
• drinking straws
• Styrofoam
• paper cup dispensers
• measuring cups
• Teflon coated pans
• table cloths
• refrigerator shelves
• cologne
• hair brushes
• lipstick
• permanent wave curlers
• perfume
• hair color
• mascara• petroleum jelly
• comb
• foam rubber curlers
• shampoo
• contact lenses and cases
• hair spray
• hand lotion
• shaving foam
• hair dryers
• shoe inserts
• dentures
• body lotion
• face masks
• skin cleanser
• deodorants
• moisturizing cream
• soap holders
• disposable razors
• leather conditioner
• mouthwash
• sunglasses
• facial toner
• lens cleanser
• nail polish
• sunscreen
• tooth brushes
• toothpaste tubes
• vitamins
• synthetic wigs
• bubble bath
• soap capsules
• carpet padding
• Naugahyde
• Venetian blinds
• TV cabinets
• extension cords
• picture frames
• flocked wallpaper
• shower doors
• Formica• refrigerator lining
• vinyl wallpaper
• curtains
• kitchen carpet
• shag carpet
• welcome mats
• fan blades
• lamps
• shower curtain
• patio furniture
• swings
• linoleum
• upholstery
• rugs
• caulking material
• light switch plates
• plungers
• faucet washers
• clotheslines
• measuring tape
• polyurethane stain
• water pipes
• electric saws
• paintbrushes
• propane bottles
• wood floor cleaner/wax
• vinyl electrical tape
• plastic pipe
• shingles (asphalt)
• light panels
• garden hoses
• plastic wood spackling paste
• awnings
• glazing compound
• Plexiglas
• spray paint
• enamel
• epoxy paint
• artificial turf
• folding doors• floor wax
• glue
• house paint
• paint rollers
• toilet seats
• water pipes
• putty
• solvents
• roofing material
• plywood adhesive
• sockets
• propane
• antifreeze
• flat tire fix
• street paving (asphalt)
• car battery cases
• coolant
• motor oil
• tires
• loud speakers
• bearing grease
• sports car bodies
• traffic cones
• car enamel
• brake fluid
• dashboards
• windshield wipers
• visors
• car sound insulation
• oil filters
• car seats
• convertible tops
• fan belts
• gasoline
• ash trays
• dog food dishes
• toolboxes• CDs and DVDs
• balloons
• dog leashes
• tape recorders
• synthetic rubber
• bubble gum
• dog toys
• flashlights
• nylon ropes
• bungee straps
• flight bags
• disposable lighters
• cassette player
• flea collars
• flutes
• lighter fluid
• cigarette cases
• electric blankets
• tool racks
• name tags
• cigarette filters
• ammonia
• newspaper tubes
• calibrated containers
• insect repellent
• phonograph records (vinyl)
• crayons
• ice buckets
• dyes
• pillows
• credit cards
• flashlights
• fly swatters
• plastic cup holders
• dice
• movie and camera film
• k-resin
• rain bonnets
• luggage
• video cassettes
• charcoal lighter
• rayon
• safety glasses, gloves, hats• shoe polish
• signs
• cassette tapes
• toys
• watch bands
• waterproof boots
• shopping bags
• bedspreads
• checkbooks
• covers
• tobacco pouches
• clothes hangers
• flea collars
• flavors
• masking tape
• safety flares
• flags
• butane
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