Gas Price Goals?

Steven Chu In ’08: ‘We Have To Figure Out How To Boost The Price Of Gasoline To The Levels In Europe’

FLASHBACK: Steven Chu In ‘08
STEVEN CHU: “Somehow We Have To Figure Out How To Boost The Price Of Gasoline To The Levels In Europe.” (“Times Tough For Energy Overhaul,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/12/08)

Current Price Of Gas ‘In Europe’
UK:  $7.87 Per Gallon
Italy: $7.54 Per Gallon
France: $7.50 Per Gallon
Germany: $7.41 Per Gallon
(“Weekly Retail Premium Motor Gasoline Prices Including Taxes,” U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2/7/11)


Then-Sen. Obama In ‘08: ‘Preferred A Gradual Adjustment’ To ‘Higher Prices’
CNBC'S JOHN HARWOOD: “So Could These High Prices Help Us?” SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): “I Think That I Would Have Preferred A Gradual Adjustment.” (CNBC's “Special Report,” 6/10/08)

“In A CNBC Interview Taped Monday In Raleigh, N.C., Obama  Suggested That The Main Problem With High Gasoline Prices Is Their Rapid Rise, Not Their Total Of About $4 A Gallon. ‘I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment,’ Obama said.” (“One Down, More To Go For Republicans Aiding McCain,” The Associated Press, 6/12/08)


Do we as Americans really want to pay what Europe is paying for gas?
             Weekly Retail Premium Gasoline Prices (Including Taxes) 
 Date              Belgium  France  Germany    Italy   Netherlands UK     US
 10/11/2010     7.31         7.02       7.24          7.11       7.74             7.01      3.05
 10/18/2010     7.44         7.17       7.30          7.20       7.89             7.10      3.07
 10/25/2010     7.51         7.19       7.45          7.15       7.87             6.98      3.06
 11/1/2010        NA          NA         NA           NA         NA              NA     3.05
 11/8/2010       7.37         7.14       7.39          7.19       7.84             7.25      3.10
 11/15/2010     7.18         6.96       7.18          7.09       7.74             7.20      3.13
 11/22/2010     7.15         7.02       7.16          7.10       7.73             7.18      3.12
 11/29/2010     6.97         6.78       7.03          6.88       7.59             7.02      3.11
 12/6/2010       7.22         7.03       7.29          7.12       7.84             7.17      3.21
 12/13/2010     7.42         7.15       7.39          7.19       7.93             7.31      3.23
 12/20/2010     7.26         7.02       7.30          7.04       7.77             7.18      3.23
 12/27/2010                                                                                                   3.30
   1/  3/2011     7.49         7.24       7.42          7.26       7.98             7.33      3.31
   1/10/2011     7.32         7.08       7.24          7.08       7.82             7.51      3.33
   1/17/2011     7.64         7.37       7.49          7.37       8.09             7.69      3.35
   1/24/2011     7.64         7.56       7.58          7.59       8.24             7.78      3.35
   1/31/2011     7.62         7.54       7.48          7.60       8.15             7.74      3.35
   2/  7/2011     7.68         7.50       7.41          7.54       8.14             7.87      3.37 
   2/14/2011
   2/21/2011