Milk vs Petrol

[threnody]

I initially started this thread as a question about US v Australia costs of living, just out of interest, but the question became too convoluted, so instead I am asking about your local milk vs petrol ratio.

Here, (Sydney, Australia) a litre of milk is about $1.20 and a litre petrol is about $1.60. I can remember being gobsmacked when petrol overtook milk.

What's the difference where you are?

[DoubleJ]

I have no idea what milk costs (it doesn't say on the container) but the high-octane gas was $3.809/gallon when I filled up last night. I'm reasonably sure that milk is less expensive than that.

[Wolf Larsen]

Gas is about $3.20 a gal here for regular no-lead. Milk prices vary wildly. The cheapest supermarket branded non-fat is about $2.50, but the certified organic is closer to $4 a gal. It looks like you guys produce about half of your oil needs and import the rest.

[Dragonlady]

Gas is running $3.59, which is roughly equivalent to milk.

[ryevermouthbitters]

New York State has a government-sanctioned milk cartel so milk goes for $5.50/gal, far in excess of gasoline, which is running $3.90-$4.10 in downtown and midtown Manhattan. The lack of a cartel in the case of milk and lower taxes in the case of gasoline make both of them cheaper over in New Jersey, with both running around $3.40ish.

[Solfy]

PA state-set retail for a gallon of 2% milk for September is running between $3.62 and $3.84, depending on region*. GasBuddy says the Pgh metro area is averaging $3.65 per gallon, which sounds about right. I'm no sure which milk region we're in, but I'd say milk is running just a smidge higher than gas this week.


*Looked this up from the Milk Marketing Board. I'm kind of surprised to see that the difference between wholesale and retail is only $0.10 per gallon.

[MsWisher]

Gas is bouncing between 1.29 and 1.35/litre in my area of Toronto.

Milk depends entirely on the size you're purchasing. 1l is just over $2, 2l around $3 and 4l for $4. That's for "standard" milk. The pur filtered option, which really does change the taste it's just not worth the premium price for me, generally increases those prices by between $1.50 and $3.00 depending on the brand.

[Elyanna]

Gas is about 3.75/gal here right now. Here is an interesting price map for the US. http://gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

I drink almond milk which is about $3.50 for a half gallon. I don't pay attention to regular milk prices, sorry. :<

[KidVermicious]

Milk depends on the brand, but is around $3 a gallon here. Gas is $3.59.

[Fresh White Sneakers]

man you got me all excited, i read the title as "milk vs. patron"

[mwm]

Milk = 'free'
Gas = ~$3.40

[Jaglavak]

Milk $3.62/gallon, gas $3.86/gallon. Us rich fat Murkins get a real deal on gas, mostly due to our behemoth military machine.

[Orkan Man]

I see milk as low as $2.54 per gallon, probably a loss leader. Gas is running about $3.49-$3.69 per gallon.

[Lungfish]

Milk = 78p per litre. (89p for 2 pints = 1.14 litres)
Petrol = 136.9p per litre.

[Glazer]

Originally Posted by mwm

Milk = 'free'
Gas = ~$3.40

Milk = $3.50
Gas = free

[Atalanta]

I don't drink milk so I have no idea.
I think gas is around $3.40ish? Though this is one of the most expensive travel weekends of the year so I am guessing it's high...

[eleanorigby]

Milk here (skim) is $2.49/gallon .... 3.78 liters in 1 gallon makes that...65 cents per liter--is that right? I suck at math).

Gas here is $3.86/gallon= $1.02 per liter.

I think I'll shut up about the high cost of stuff... But Chicago does tend to run some of the highest gas prices in the country (I've heard all manner of "reasons" why). Gas is predicted to go up by at least 10 cents per gallon this weekend due to the holiday and the situation in Syria. (I am of the mind that gas prices go up whenever the wind changes).


ETA: of course, it's all relative. I remember a time when gas cost 35 CENTS a gallon.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

Milk $3.62/gallon, gas $3.86/gallon. Us rich fat Murkins get a real deal on gas, mostly due to our behemoth military machine.

No, actually not. The price of RBOB (which is gas minus the final additives) at the refinery is pretty the same, because if the difference was more than the cost of shipping, it would get bought where it was cheap and sold where it was dear. The reason that Europe pays more than we do is taxes that are added on top of the basic price. This started a long time ago when cars were rare and the wealthy could pay a high tax rate on the gas. It isn't that crude is a lot more expensive there than here.

[Jaglavak]

Yes, and I should give credit to our domestic production as well. We are still the 3rd largest producer in the world, although we do import about 2/3 of our supply. However I believe that the fungible oil market would not exist without the threat of military force, and IMHO the deterrent is mostly due to the US.

[Anacanapuna]

I dunno. I don't care. I have grandchildren, so when they come visit we buy milk and Oreos, and Grandpa dunks cookies in milk with the kiddies because he's just a damn kid himself.

Gas? Again I dunno ... I pump it, I burn it, I only do 65 mph on the interstate because it cuts my gas consumption by about 10%, give or take. And I'm old, which means I'm in no damn hurry, but I have places to go and people to see, so I'm gonna' go there and see 'em, regardless of the price of gas. I figure the gasoline/government conspiracy will keep the price within my reach while still soaking me for the most I can afford.

It's good to trust those in charge.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

Yes, and I should give credit to our domestic production as well. We are still the 3rd largest producer in the world, although we do import about 2/3 of our supply. However I believe that the fungible oil market would not exist without the threat of military force, and IMHO the deterrent is mostly due to the US.

While I take great pride in the US military, the oil market is one of the largest and most liquid markets on earth and I don't think the US military has much to do with it. About the only place we do much to keep the oil trade happening is keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. 20% of the world's petroleum goes through it. But if it got closed for a long period of time the Saudis would build a pipeline over to the Red Sea side of things.

[Chacoguy]

Nice tags guys.

[Jaglavak]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

While I take great pride in the US military, the oil market is one of the largest and most liquid markets on earth and I don't think the US military has much to do with it. About the only place we do much to keep the oil trade happening is keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. 20% of the world's petroleum goes through it. But if it got closed for a long period of time the Saudis would build a pipeline over to the Red Sea side of things.

They have that covered. Brand new pipeline going south past the straits, just installed a couple years ago.

But it's no secret that we need oil like we need air. OPEC has a knife to our throat and would surely jack up the price to the limit and then explore new limits - except that we have an even bigger knife to their nads. Yes, I know that they need our dollars to buy off their enemies almost as much as we need oil. But it wasn't always this way and the present situation didn't happen by chance. So I will concede that the CIA had a lot to do with it too.

[kayaker]

I've been paying three fiddy for gas. I don't buy milk, but no matter how cheap it is I don't think you can run a car on it without an expensive conversion kit.

[Farmer Vincent]

At Circle K gas stations and convenience stores you can get both the cheapest local milk, gas, and bananas- which I think are all pretty good indicators of commodity (The Circle K Index). It used to be two gallons of milk for $5, but it went up in the last year to $5.49. Gas, of course, fluctuates wildly, but today on one of the most traveled holidays of the year it is right around $3.58 for a gallon of 87 octane. Bananas are 49 cents a pound.

[mwm]

Originally Posted by Glazer

Milk = $3.50
Gas = free

Heh, I have a feeling your gas is as free as my milk. No monetary expense, but a ton of work to get it (but fresh milk is so much better than store-bought, it's not even funny).

Originally Posted by Anacanapuna

Gas? Again I dunno ... I pump it, I burn it, I only do 65 mph on the interstate ... And I'm old, which means I'm in no damn hurry

I've never understood why old people aren't in a hurry. You're practically dead, one foot in the grave. You should be rushing everywhere to get as much done before death closes its grasp completely upon you.

[eleanorigby]

I don't know either--he's still working, too, so he should be pressed for time.

I know I still rush around--but I choose better my rushing, so to speak.

(that's a horrible sentence, but I don't care).

[Glazer]

Originally Posted by mwm

Heh, I have a feeling your gas is as free as my milk. No monetary expense, but a ton of work to get it (but fresh milk is so much better than store-bought, it's not even funny).

Work pays for my gas. I just turn in the receipts.