Are oil companies price gouging consumers?

In the first quarter of 2008, Big Oil had a profit margin of 7.4 percent. Over that same period, the pharmaceutical and medicine industry earned a 25.9 percent profit, the chemical industry earned 15.7 percent and the electronic


equipment industry earned 12.1 percent.





What about those movie theater refreshments? Four large popcorns and four large sodas cost $31.50. The total raw ingredient cost is approximately $7.56. That equals a 76 percent gross margin. Where is the political outrage over that figure?





Still believe it is the oil companies gouging us? Speaker Nancy Pelosi seems to.





Ms. Pelosi has called oil company profits ';obscene,'; and recently supported yet another measure to investigate alleged oil industry price gouging.





Why doesn't congress investigate these industries? I am be gouged when I go to the movies. Are the democrats just playing politics over the oil profits?





http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0807/p09s0鈥?/a>Are oil companies price gouging consumers?
It is not about the ';issue';!





It is about VOTES!





By jumping on such an emotional issue, one that you have to scratch the surface to understand, politicians use these issues to create the perception that they are ';fighting for you';.





We the people tend to react emotionally rather than logically when issues such as these are brought to our attention. Thus, opportunists, such as NP and a lot of others (both sides) play on our emotions for their personal and party gain.





Your points are absolutely correct! When you look at profit margin vs cash, the picture is much different.





OPEC is the real culprit and always has been, but you can't get votes by criticizing an organization that few people understand.





Are oil companies price gouging consumers?
Well, the wortld runs on Oil, not popcorn so this is a little more serious.





I dont beelive they are gouging however. Politicions are just jumping on this to make it look like they're doing something when in reality they are not.





That goes for both sides. Both sides are more interested in making the other look bad. Not about you.
Since you don't allow e-mail,I will respond to you here.No I don't believe every e-mail I receive.I was mocking those who do believe e-mails saying that Obama is a Muslim and question his patriotism.I don't care about a candidates' religion and whether or not they wear a flag pin on their lapel
What about Microsoft, the company started by Bill Gates the liberal. Their profit margin is just under 30%. Why doesn't Windows sell for much less. Price gouging perhaps.
18 investigations by congress produced what, you calling for another investigation. Brilliant
What about beer at the baseball games? I can buy a six pack at the corner store for the same price of one beer at a game.
Liberals only care about 'big' oil. They have been trying to destroy the oil industry for 30 yrs.
Bottled water cost more per gallon than gas. Enough said.
As diesel and airline fuels demand continue to go up... price will stay the same.
Nope.