Unleaded Gasoline Prices Country Comparison http://theev.

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What the US government considers a gallon of gas to cost

The actual price of fuel paid at the pump for American consumers is actually hidden. As all US taxpayers (if they drive or not) continue to pay additional funds in the way of multiple subsidies to oil companies. To make a more true comparison with other countries these hidden costs would have to be added (see The Hidden Cost of Pump Prices for details). Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update: According to the US Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov) of April 25th 2011 the retail price of $3.87 a gallon of Regular Gasoline is comprised of the following cost percentage breakdown: 68% Crude Oil, 13% Refining, 7% Distribution & Marketing and 12% taxes. A gallon of Diesel fuel has similar

numbers as of March 2011 the retail price of a 4.09 gallon: 62% Crude Oil, 15% Refining, 11% Distribution & Marketing and 12% taxes. By comparing unleaded fuel prices in the USA to Unleaded EU prices, to the Unleaded price in Asia and/or just all of Europe or Australia etc might help give a clearer indication of the real cost of fuel worldwide. Seeing these price differences might even get some thinking as to why the US government uses such a different pricing structure and methods to perhaps hide the real world cost of oil from citizens. It has been suggested this is to give the appearance to the US citizens that they are getting a good or better deal than the rest of the planet when it comes to petrol prices and thus would be more supportive of their elected officials. However, since oil is a commodity and every country pays the same price on the open market that means that for a practical purposes the US government is keeping the price of fuel artificially low at the pump. This practice keeps the population driving and consuming oil in vast quantities via their oversized high profit margin SUVs. In addition it makes the general population more resistive to smaller more efficient alternative fuel vehicles or using public transport much to the delight and profit of the big oil & automotive companies. Shame on their politicians for putting such policies in place and not having the political will not to cater to the whims of big business. Prices USD per gallon of Regular Unleaded (as of May 1st 2011) Country $/Gal

USA Australia Austria Belgium Czech Rep Denmark Estonia Finland France Great Britain Germany Greece

3.87 8.37 7.94 9.29 8.21 9.71 7.02 8.94 9.06 8.75 9.06 9.60

Denmark Estonia Finland France Great Britain Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey

9.71 7.02 8.94 9.06 8.75 9.06 9.60 7.27 7.94 8.45 8.83 7.44 7.64 7.64 7.27 9.83 9.56 7.29 9.17 7.41 8.26 7.33 7.68 9.17 6.95 9.54