You'll remember, about a week after the election, I posted a diary with a poll attached.  I discussed whether gasoline prices had been manipulated prior to the election and then polled the audience on where the price of gas would be come the first day of spring.

Today's the day the bet comes due: March 21.  

If you recall, I tank up at an off-brand place which regularly has the lowest prices around.  I thought that gas prices would be more than $2.509 a gallon there today.

I was wrong. And, so was everyone else who took the poll.  But, hey, we were predicting the future.

This morning, driving by, the price was $2.399.

That price has been holding now for about 10 days.  It's up considerably from where it had been right before the election.  In my earlier diary, I noted the price was $1.919 on November 7, making a 48 cent/gallon increase in four months - a hair better than 25%.

Not too shabby if you're an oil company, considering there has been no supply interruption or new debacle affecting oil prices.  I still think the prices were manipulated pre-election.  That the price has not hit the $2.509 I thought is nice, if only because filling up costs me a buck and a half less than it would, if I had won my bet.