What am I paying for in the price of a gallon of gasoline?

[Zembonez]

Put out there by Exxon / Mobil but it's still interesting.

http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.c.../?utm_source=paid.outbrain.com&utm_medium=cpc

 

[Alljackedup408]

Crazy.

 

[ScottyBoy]

 

[Tucson Z60]

Almost .30 cent difference from Arizona to Ca. When we go to San Diego I fill up in Yuma. Depending on how much we drive I may have to buy a 1/2 to full tank while in San Diego and make sure I have enough to get to back to Yuma. The tax savings alone makes it worth while to attempt some sort of planning or we take the wife's Mustang and fill up in Yuma.....drive as much as we want in San Diego and fill up again in Yuma.

 

[Draenor]

As the EIA figures show, however, refining doesn’t always produce a profit. In December, the data indicate that the U.S. market price for gasoline coming out of refineries was on average about 7 cents per gallon (-2 percent) below the refiners’ cost of crude oil alone, and before accounting for their costs of upgrading the crude into gasoline. In other words, refineries faced a market where domestic gasoline prices were very weak relative to global crude prices.

How does that happen? Refiners are “price takers” that operate on relatively low profit margins that are highly dependent on the market demand for petroleum products. That means at times, the value of a petroleum product coming out of the refinery isn’t enough to cover the costs of obtaining and refining the crude oil.

They lose money but yet still turn huge profits.

Granted I dont have the exact figures, but assuming the below...
Currently crude is (6/24/12) $80.15 / 42gal=$1.908
Distribution + .33
Taxes + .39
Refining(I'll give them profit) + .07
$2.69 per gallon

I'm not convinced based off my math and this 10mg of Hydrocodone I took for my shoulder.