Many causes, much normal oscillation. Can't point to any one thing exclusively.

AND, the sudden drop just before the elections, with NO increase in supply, NO increase in refinery capacity, AND in the face of the winter which comes every year and which jacks the price up every year after the price has been jacked up every summer,

is way, way too coincidental for it not to be related to said election.

Rises are always explained in terms of increase in demand, limited refinery capacity, or disruptions in supply. Well, we've had all of those and the price still came down.

The oil companies are aware of who greases their wheels.

Arf