that OPEC has chosen to reduce production to keep the price in the $60.00 PB range. Ergo, crude prices rose nearly two dollars a barrel in late trading.

That demand has risen slightly worldwide, pressuring refined product prices even more.

That it rises a few cents every year about this time as the public, having recovered from the driving binge of Labor Fay weekend, increases driven milage.

That the market tightens as refiners begin buying even more heavily for winter production of heating fuels.

Oh, yes I could point all these causes for the freemarket oscillation of retail prices.

But I doubt you'd want to hear the cold hard facts.