Gasoline prices continue their relentless rise here in San Diego. Regular unleaded now is $1 or more per gallon than on Feb. 24, 2022—when started Russia’s Ukrainian invasion. The Featured Image and companion compare changes over one day. The Arco is located at El Cajon Blvd and Texas Street, where North Park and University Heights meet.
But 30 cents a gallon more than yesterday, or the day before, isn’t the bigger difference. I awoke this morning to news alerts that Joseph Biden banned importation of Russian oil. Price to pump fuel is least of the problems. This sanction, on top of the others, leads to one conclusion, and a single consequence: The United States and Russia are unofficially at war. All that remains is declaration by one side or the other.
That’s the difference between today and yesterday that truly matters. Deescalation should be Washington’s strategy, because historically high crude oil prices precipitate economic crisis; easily globally and with (sadly) far-greater human pain and suffering than what Ukrainians experience right now. Sometimes hard choices must be made. Think short story “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin. Does Biden really want to corner the Russian bear, whose claws are nuclear missiles?
Returning to the photos, I used Leica Q2 to capture both. Vitals for the first, aperture manually set for each: f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/400 sec, 28mm; 2:44 p.m. PST, today. Across the street, the Mobile charged $5.60 for the same grade. Three blocks away, at Valero: $5.50.
Vitals for the second photo: f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/3200 sec, 28mm; March 6. Because price was same yesterday, I chose not to shoot anew. Regardless, cost per gallon increased 30 cents overnight. On the 7th, Mobile charged $5.50 and Valero $5.40. If you haven’t caught on, I round up from nine-tenths.
These stations all typically have lower prices within several kilometers of this intersection. I haven’t looked beyond that. You don’t have to venture far to find $6.00-plus per gallon.