Any merchant of a finite commodity eventually has to start limiting the availability of that commodity (in this case the choice of a limiting tool is the price available to consumers) this is done for the sake of profit, as selling that commodity out too quickly will result in no longer having a market. Oil companies aren’t using all of their available drilling opportunities and prices are rising in spite of increasing reserves. Has anyone considered the possibility that we are now at a period where the oil market is shifting and large oil companies may start to promote energy efficiency, as it’s not really dollars per gallon that’s the most important factor as miles per dollar that’s most important.

What if this is a message from big oil that they are changing their business plan and we should all start to conserve?
Dave – you are correct. Prices are going up right now in spite of increasing reserves and a decrease in demand. Oil companies have significant spare capacity at the moment but have chosen not to exercise that capacity.
Apparently conservatives think the word “finite” means “people can get more if you tell them they can”