WEST SEATTLE SCENE: $5 gasoline

Thanks for the tip. Signs at the two co-owned Chevron stations in Admiral (41st/Admiral, shown above, and California/Admiral) are displaying prices above $5/gallon. These are outliers in West Seattle so far as we can tell from driving the arterials – the (corrected) Chevron station at Delridge/Orchard is the only one close, with a $4.99 on its sign.

Most others are considerably cheaper. National updates say the average nationwide price may break a record this week. Way back in the volatile times of 2008-2009, we published weekly gas-price checks, long before sites/apps specializing in that popped up; the $4-plus records were set in mid-2008, but by late 2008, prices were dropping below $2.

76 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE SCENE: $5 gasoline"

  • psps March 6, 2022 (2:42 pm)

    As a commodity, oil is pretty much a global pool so any reduction in its size will affect the world. Europe will feel the bite more than the US and there’s no griping there as they’ve been through this before. And, besides, what price democracy and stopping an out-of-control autocrat bent on invading countries? This sums it up:

    https://twitter.com/johnpavlovitz/status/1499436078733967360

    • North Delridge March 6, 2022 (3:23 pm)

      Yes I’m sure those living paycheck to paycheck would love an emotionally manipulative twitter thread to feel better about this.

      • South Delridge March 6, 2022 (4:55 pm)

        If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, ok. That’s your opinion and express it as such. But, my family and I live paycheck to paycheck and you do not speak for me so check yourself before you start speaking for people other than yourself (if that’s even you).We do what we have to in order to get by. If milk is $10 a gallon, then we do what we have to. If gas is $5 a gallon, same logic applies. Am I happy whether I’m spending $65 a tank vs $52? No. At least I have the opportunity to short pay a bill to make sure our car gets me and my wife to work and our kids to school though. Perspective is everything and we are grateful. Speak for yourself.

    • Sunshine March 6, 2022 (3:47 pm)

      I’ve seen stats as low as 3% as far as how much oil we get from Russia. Doesn’t justify the huge cost spike at the pump. Not a fan of Putin but I don’t see how this translates to prices increasing 20% overnight in West Seattle.

      • Joe March 6, 2022 (5:01 pm)

        It’s doesn’t matter whether or not we get oil from Russia. It’s a global commodity. Think of it this way – European countries that previously got a lot of their oil from Russia, now are competing for our sources of oil. We’re all competing with our money. 

    • Chuckle March 6, 2022 (4:07 pm)

      I’m the minority probably but I’m all for gas price staying above 5 so that people will drive less and less in a single occupant. 6 or even 7 is fine with me.

      • Joe blow March 6, 2022 (6:59 pm)

        If you buy groceries or any other products or services in life I don’t think you will be good with $7 gas. 

      • anonyme March 7, 2022 (6:06 am)

        Chuckle, I agree.  Even at $5 per gallon, gas prices are nowhere near actual cost, which is subsidized by the US government to the tune of $20 billion per year.  This is a direct assault on clean energy, completely negating the empty promises of the Paris Accord and COP26.  Our dependence on fossil fuels is literally killing all of us. 

      • WS resident March 7, 2022 (1:37 pm)

        Agree, we choose our lifestyle. There is public transport, we’ve had hybrids and electric vehicles for a long time. People need to let go of reliance on fossil fuels. 

    • East Coast Cynic March 6, 2022 (5:05 pm)

      Widespread public transportation and bigger safety nets in the EU countries arguably help them bear the price shocks more so than us gas guzzling Americans.

  • Sunshine March 6, 2022 (3:15 pm)

    Up a dollar in one day, ok .96 cents. Gasbuddy shows the price at 4.31 1 day ago.

    • WSB March 6, 2022 (4:01 pm)

      Gas Buddy is behind – I looked at that site out of curiosity just before publishing this. We took the photo yesterday, noon Saturday to be specific (and drove by again around noon today to verify it hadn’t changed, and it hadn’t), and the tip came in some time before that – maybe even Friday, though I can’t find it now to check time.

      • Sunshine March 6, 2022 (4:04 pm)

        I filled up there Friday and it was $4.31/gallon.

      • exmon March 6, 2022 (4:21 pm)

        We drive pass that station on most evenings. I can confirm on Thursday evening it was still 4.39, and on Friday evening it became 5.xx. We thought it might have been an error but it remained the same on Saturday.

        • exmon March 6, 2022 (5:02 pm)

          Correction: $4.31 on Thursday night (like reported by others), not $4.39. A few days before that it was $4.21.

  • D March 6, 2022 (3:36 pm)

    If only we, as a country, could do something to increase domestic production, so we wouldn’t have to rely mostly on imported crude…

    • K March 6, 2022 (4:51 pm)

      Um… the US is the world’s top oil producer. As recently as 2020 we were a net exporter.Were also the top consumer. Maybe if we tried to cut down just a little bit, we could export more.

      • D March 7, 2022 (2:31 pm)

        Something happened in 2020 that changed all that.. I forget what it was, but it wasn’t COVID.

        • Jim March 8, 2022 (7:18 am)

          Saudis drove prices down to kill American shale production. Then Covid.  Double-whammy.

    • Jeff March 6, 2022 (5:07 pm)

      Unless you are talking about nationalizing production, and I suspect you are not, how would it help?   Given that oil is a commodity with a worldwide market, and that a large number of big players literally conspire to set prices wherever they like, what’s the difference?    The USA is literally incapable of producing enough to manipulate the worldwide price.  It’s not like Exxon or Texaco is going to give a discount to American buyers just because they pumped it from Alaska. 

    • Youratool March 8, 2022 (10:47 am)

      There are 9000 approved drilling sites that are not being drilled on. Most of that is to help inflate the cost of a barrel of oil. We only import 10% or less from Russia.  This increase is about greed, not the conflict.

  • Jon March 6, 2022 (4:05 pm)

    How is this not considered gouging? The oil to make the fuel in circulation has been bought and paid for- they’re not making fresh fuel everyday and delivering it to your door like milk from a local farm.  These people will find any excuse they can to increase their profits- we see it every time, and the prices never really back off- unless there’s a pandemic in full swing and nobody’s driving anywhere. I’m  no expert in the oil trade,  but I’m pretty sure can tell when someone’s taking advantage of a situation.   

    • Plf March 6, 2022 (8:38 pm)

      You are so correct Jon, the owners of these stations purchased the gas in their tanks already and are just gouging the public, I could understand if this spike was in a couple of weeksshame on them, really is pathetic

      • uncle loco March 7, 2022 (5:12 am)

        I would imagine that they base their price on the cost to refill the tanks.

      • Chuck Jacobs March 7, 2022 (7:28 am)

        Gas stations get deliveries at least every 2-3 days. High volume sellers like Costco get several per day. 

  • Rick March 6, 2022 (4:09 pm)

    We could. Our politicians won’t.

  • Zman March 6, 2022 (4:50 pm)

    Those two stations and the safeway are always the highest in w seattle..do they have vonfrence call weekly?

    • WSB March 6, 2022 (4:52 pm)

      The Safeway across the street (Admiral) was $4.39 when we checked back on the Chevron stations at noontime today.

    • West Seattle Resident March 8, 2022 (10:40 am)

      Seriously! That Chevron is always way more expensive than the Arco across the street. They only opened a few months ago, I am surprised they’re still in business.

  • Mj March 6, 2022 (4:52 pm)

    Putin’s actions are incredibly nerve racking, oil costing is only one of adverse consequences.  This added cost is going to penetrate the whole economy.  This was the last thing the world needs now!

    • Pessoa March 7, 2022 (2:16 pm)

      Our last president warned Germany about their reliance on Russia energy in 2018 and was laughed at.  He was eerily prophetic as it turns out.  

      • Walker March 7, 2022 (8:58 pm)

        The last guy also said Putin was a “genius” for what he’s doing right now. Any advice/proclamation from said guy is immediately suspect.

  • Sunshine March 6, 2022 (5:03 pm)

    Just a reminder for everyone. Watch out for people stealing gas from your tank. There were reports of this happening when gas was high in 2008/2009.

    • Pessoa March 7, 2022 (7:06 pm)

      Now, that is a good tip. My gas cap door was ajar today and it appears someone got away with a small amount of gas. 

  • KT March 6, 2022 (5:13 pm)

    Gas gouging can be reported here.https://www.energy.gov/report-gas-price-gouging

  • trickycoolj March 6, 2022 (5:24 pm)

    Vancouver BC suburbs are clocking in at $6/gal (CAD$2.06/l) and relatives in Germany are paying ~$9/gal (€2.20/l). So feel lucky it’s only $5. 

    • t March 6, 2022 (9:20 pm)

      Canada’s price is not much off of ours then. Remember the exchange rate when comparing.

  • waikikigirl March 6, 2022 (5:43 pm)

    I asked my sister just yesterday what they are paying (Arizona) per gallon and she said $3.99 at Fry’s must be a grocery store station.

  • Graciano March 6, 2022 (5:44 pm)

    Gas price in Russia is .48 per liter, or $1.82 per gallon.

    • CAM March 6, 2022 (7:51 pm)

      And is there anything else that you would like about living in Russia? This isn’t a zero sum game where you get to pick and choose the most beneficial things to you from each country with an equivalent cost. I think you’d find that gas in Russia costs you a lot more than what you are advertising. 

      • momosmom March 7, 2022 (9:38 am)

        @Cam, Did Graciano say he wanted/liked to live in Russia? To me I read it as a statement/comment.   So easy to find fault in somebody then to just read it as a statement/comment.

    • Jay March 7, 2022 (1:31 pm)

      The average salary in Russia is $16,000 a year.

  • Viaductfan March 6, 2022 (6:16 pm)

    Shell purchased 100,000 metric tons of Russian crude on Friday. They got a deal too. $28.50 per barrel discount. So it’s not all bad for everybody.

    • shotinthefoot March 7, 2022 (9:02 am)

      Shell is the only producer who declined to cut ties with Russia, instead purchasing oil at a steep discount – how is this not war profiteering? I won’t be buying Shell gas, no matter how cheap it is. 

  • KBear March 6, 2022 (6:22 pm)

    I’ll believe the price of gas is too high when my neighbors stop idling their motorcycles and trucks at all hours of the day.  

    • KM March 6, 2022 (7:06 pm)

      Hear, hear. So much idling in our city. I’m dumbfounded (and disappointed) they way people just keep it running when waiting for the 1st Ave S bridge. Wild.

    • OneTimeCharley March 6, 2022 (7:09 pm)

      Sounds like (pun intended) we have the same selfish neighbor. Super small D energy abounds with all these race car mufflers and obnoxious, purposefully loud motorcycles around these days.

  • MJ March 6, 2022 (6:39 pm)

    On the environmental bright side this should hasten the conversation to electric vehicles that is already happening!

    • WS Res March 6, 2022 (9:19 pm)

      Maybe Smart will start selling cars in the US again. We’re super glad to have found our 2018 FourTwo on the used market. 

  • Mj March 6, 2022 (6:46 pm)

    The price of oil in June 2008 adjusted for inflation $162 per barrel.

  • Wendy March 6, 2022 (8:12 pm)

    The oil and gas companies, their stockholders,  are laughing all the way to the bank. They know we have to use their products. That we will cut back here and there to buy it, and be “grateful” that we can. I wonder what happened to Gulf oil and why it was so important to us awhile back, for us to meddle in a war. Gas prices skyrocketed then too. It’s crap. Those companies are getting away with this financial murder off the backs of the average citizens

    • flimflam March 7, 2022 (5:55 am)

      …and if we cut back they’ll charge even more – same with the utilities. “forecasted useage is down so we need to raise the rates to compensate”.

    • Jw March 7, 2022 (7:08 am)

      And killing the planet too.

  • Joe Davis March 7, 2022 (3:06 am)

    Back in 1999 when the Deutschmark switch over to the Euro it was low as 3-4  Euro a litter and as high as 7-8 Euro a litter. The Euro at the time was equal to the US dollar. Let’s do some math. 7 times 4 is 28. So it was about $28 dollars a gallon. So $5 a gallon. Still highly acceptable by my standards. Hit me up when we begin reaching $20 a gallon. Then I’ll be concerned. 

  • Reed March 7, 2022 (5:36 am)

    Simple solution, drive less.

  • Chris K March 7, 2022 (6:22 am)

    This is not practical for everyone, but there are many that can and should walk, bike or use public transit instead of their personal automobiles for getting around.  We are lucky to live in one of the few U.S. cities where this is achievable for a large portion of the population.  Please consider making a few lifestyle changes, not only for your health and pocketbook, but for the health and safety of others as well.

  • Kathy March 7, 2022 (10:36 am)

    How far can you drive on a gallon of gas? I’d say $5 is cheap. If you take the bus even just a couple of miles it is $5.50 round trip.

    • Bus Rider March 7, 2022 (11:36 am)

      The Transit Go app gives you $25 worth of free rides.  Every time I use, they keep giving me more points for more rides.  I had to sign up for Flip Your trip.  https://www.seattletraffic.org/flipyourtrip/

      • Kathy March 7, 2022 (3:45 pm)

        Thanks  for the reminder.  I guess I signed up in September but missed the email with the promo code. What do I do now, wave my phone at the bus card reader? I get the senior discount anyway but a dollar is a dollar.  Or $2.50 in the case of the Water Taxi.

        • Bus Rider March 7, 2022 (4:16 pm)

          Are you able to search your email for the promo code?  Perhaps search for “Flip Your Trip”.  When you install the app on your phone you’ll be automatically loaded w/ $25 worth of trips.  It knows how much points to charge based on what form of transit you’re using eg: Water Taxi vs Light Rail.  Here is a video tutorial for Transit Go.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT0RuQOUam4The only difference is you’re “redeeming” the preloaded rewards that Flip Your Trip gave you.  You aren’t making a purchase.  Don’t “activate” until you are ready to board, so you can squeeze out more time on your ride.  And then just show your phone to the operator!  One time, a nice Sound Transit operator let me use my Metro purchase for a ride to the airport. 

  • Jort March 7, 2022 (10:46 am)

    People think I’m being glib and snarky when I say this, but I really think people who are concerned about the high cost of gasoline should take seriously other options. The average e-bike costs about $0.06 to fully charge, and can replicate a great deal of trips that would otherwise be driven in a car. I strongly recommend readers take a test ride somewhere and see for themselves how useful and practical an e-bike can be.

    • Bus Rider March 7, 2022 (12:01 pm)

      You aren’t being glib or snarky but people will think you are.  For every comment with someone saying not everyone is physically able to ride a bike, I have co workers in their 60’s and 70’s riding their bikes to work.  For every person saying taking the bus to Bellevue or First Hill takes too long and too many transfers, I have co workers who commute from Bremerton, Puyallup, and Mukilteo to Seattle using public transportation.  By not having a car, the bridge being down, gas prices, or SDOT construction, speed bumps, detours and Healthy Streets that only exists as a war on cars, is not a big deal and is not even news worthy to me because my life doesn’t revolve around getting to places by car.  It would be great if everyone could go carless one day a week, like Meatless Mondays.  If people aren’t willing to change their ways, there’s always the alternative.  Keep complaining and beating the same old tired dead horse. 

    • OneTimeCharley March 7, 2022 (12:10 pm)

      I have been toying with the idea of owning an e-bike, but the thought of theft for such an expensive item prohibits me from actually pursuing it. For instance, if I rode it to the grocery store, how can I be 100% certain it will not simply be stolen as I shop?

      • Spoked March 7, 2022 (1:56 pm)

        May not be able to have 100% certainty but here are some suggestions. Get a U lock and lock your wheel with frame to a bike rack or railing. Lock your bike in a well visible location, preferably in view of security camera. Also, you might check if your bike would be covered by your home insurance policy.

        If you’re thinking about getting a bike, go for it, doubt you will regret it, and if you do, you can sell it. Happy riding!

        • Kathy March 7, 2022 (3:55 pm)

          The best way to lock a bike is to use two separate locks through the frame and each wheel. They don’t even have to be expensive locks. Bike theft is an opportunity crime and thieves will target the ones quickest and easiest to cut. I learned this from a bike messenger in NYC. Very few homeowner policies cover electrified bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to lock downtown. They would have replaced the bike had it not had an electric motor.

      • KM March 7, 2022 (2:08 pm)

        How about the price of a cat converter or an actual car replacement? What about your car when it’s parked 90% of its lifespan, is there no risk of theft? What’s the concern with a cheaper vehicle at the grocery store? I don’t think this reasoning holds up upon comparison.

      • Jort March 7, 2022 (2:35 pm)

        There are several good, highly-deterrent locks out there, and some e-bikes have anti-theft alarm and tracking systems built into them. I’ve been riding for years and have not had anybody steal my bike, though I have, of course, had cars hit my bike while it was parked. 

    • Eric1 March 7, 2022 (12:53 pm)

      Or you could drive a 6000# Toyota Sequoia that costs $100 to fill up. The Toyota Sequoia has the unique distinction of having zero occupant fatalities over its production life. One of the serious considerations to take when contemplating the purchase of a vehicle is how safe are the occupants (whom I usually care about). YMMV but some things are worth more than money as bikes generally lack meaningful occupant protection. Bike racks are your friend. I personally choose to see the sights on my bike while riding on trails that are generally free of vehicular hazards.

      • Jort March 7, 2022 (2:39 pm)

        I’m sure you’ve thought of this already, but for those who aren’t aware: one of the big problems with bike safety is that cyclists are expected to share road space with high-speed 6,000 pound vehicles, which have been meticulously engineered to protect vehicle occupants at the considerable detriment to those, including pedestrians, outside the vehicle. These were specific engineering decisions made without any care or attention to their downstream effects on non-motorists. It is part of the vicious death spiral of automobile-centered transportation design. There is no need to have such large vehicles on our roads.

      • heartless March 7, 2022 (3:34 pm)

        zero occupant fatalities”

        Well, that’s almost certainly not true.  But, if it were true, then I guess that’s really great for the .001 percent of the population in them.  I mean, your comment sort of summarizes a lot of the comment threads around here–an unabashed, almost proud, prioritization of us v them.  Ridiculously heavy vehicles keeping their occupants safer at the cost of being more dangerous for every other person on the roads.  

  • Auntie March 7, 2022 (11:05 am)

    The Shell station at 128th & Ambaum is usually 5¢-10¢ cheaper per gallon than the one on Delridge and if you use Fred Meyer/QFC fuel points, you can save a few more cents per gallon (up to $1.00 per gallon). For me, it’s usually worth the drive to fill up there.

  • dhg March 7, 2022 (1:19 pm)

    The major oil companies made over $100 billion in profits last year and have used nearly half of that for stock buy backs. If you want to be made at someone for high gas prices, direct your energy there.

    • anonyme March 8, 2022 (5:37 am)

      Fossil fuel industries received 5.9 TRILLION dollars in global subsidies just in 2020.  Imagine if that amount went instead toward developing clean energy strategies, including infrastructure?  Meanwhile, world leaders fiddle while the planet burns.  At a minimum, they could require mileage requirements and limit the size of non-commercial vehicles, but there’s not even a gesture in that direction – save the grand and empty gestures of attending climate conferences.  I’m with Greta – blah, blah, blah.

  • Mj March 7, 2022 (5:25 pm)

    dhg – I also would blame vehicle manufacturers for hawking gaz guzzling SUV’s and Trucks and the consumers that buy these vehicles. As you know price is based on supply and demand.

  • morealex March 9, 2022 (12:32 am)

    Last night (late Monday March 7) I filled my tank at the Chevron at Orchard & Delridge.  I see this story was posted on March 6, so just about 24 hours later, I paid $5.599/gallon (for Plus).  So that’s quite a jump just one day later.  What usually cost me in months past ~$25-28 to do… last night cost me $45.

    • WSB March 9, 2022 (12:39 am)

      Thanks for the update!

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