"Brian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Is there a shortage, is any one going without, if not we are all paying more >than we need to.
The global daily production and consumption of crude oil (from which petrol is made, of course) are very nearly in balance. However, consumption of crude oil is increasing. If production does not also increase, the price goes up until demand drops to the production level. It is possible to increase production (there is plenty of oil in the ground, despite what you hear), but the new production will be at a higher cost per barrel on average (although there is still the potential to pump more of the cheaper Middle Eastern stuff, if the Turks don't decide to invade Iraq etc. etc.). This again pushes the price up. Crude oil is a market. If you want to buy some, you have to bid against all the other possible buyers. Only you can define your "need", but if you don't pay the market price you probably won't get any oil. Suit yourself. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
