Gasoline prices online

Buying cheap gasoline around Pasadena, California in April 2010 means spending about $ 2.99 per gallon at AM PM. Here are ways to look ahead to gasoline prices for Summer 2010:

First, log on to the U.S. Energy Information Administration website at http://www.eia.doe.gov.

On the home page, go to “Forecasts and Analysis” then click on that section.

On the next screen, in the right center column is a heading “Reports.” Click on “Short Term Energy Outlook.”

On the next page, read under the term “Highlights.” Notice there are projections for crude oil prices, gasoline retail prices, natural gas prices, and electricity. There’s also information on emissions from fossil fuels.

Notice the jump in prices this year. EIA forecasts “that regular-grade motor gasoline retail prices will average $2.92 per gallon during this summer's driving season (the period between April 1 and September 30), up from $2.44 per gallon last summer.”

Then go to the next section for an international overview on Global Crude Oil and Liquid Fuels. The EIA projects that world oil consumption will grow by 1.5 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2010 and 1.6 million bbl/d in 2011, similar to the forecast of last month.

The consumption is attributed to a more economic activity on a global scale.

Another website for finding the lowest gasoline price in your neighborhood is Gasoline Price Watch.com. On the left hand side are search boxes to enter intersections or zip codes in order to find the lowest price.

I put in my zip code, a 10-mile radius, and there were 373 stations found. The ones with the lowest prices were either 10 miles or slightly more. There were 76 stations found within a 5 mile radius and the cheapest gasoline stations were still at the limit of the 5-mile boundary or slightly beyond.

There are also gasoline fuel saving tips which include “Avoid filling gas tank to top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Try never to fill gas tank past the first ‘click’ of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.”

Another site for finding gasoline prices is fueleconomy.gov. On the home page, click on an article to go inside where there is a navigation bar. Click on the text “Gasoline Prices” to be directed to a map of the United States. Click to reach your state and local area.

At the navigation, there is also text on tax incentives.

Using the power of search engines, it’s possible to quickly research gasoline prices online in your local area.