http://www.opposingviews.com/users/consumer-federation-of-america Since 1968, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has provided consumers a well-reasoned and articulate voice in decisions that affect their lives. Day in and out, CFA's professional staff gathers facts, analyzes issues, and disseminates information to the public, policymakers, and rest of the consumer movement. The size and diversity of its membership -- some 300 nonprofit organizations from throughout the nation with a combined membership exceeding 50 million people -- enables CFA to speak for virtually all consumers. In particular, CFA looks out for those who have the greatest needs, especially the least affluent. http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-oil-speculation-responsible-for-high-gas-prices As Americans watch their wallets empty as quickly as gas prices climb, we all search for answers. Some experts say the seemingly endless rise in gas prices is being driven largely by oil speculation, the practice of buying and trading oil futures -- in an attempt to predict the cost of oil at a later date. Should you blame speculation for your pain at the pump? Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:38:58 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-oil-speculation-responsible-for-high-gas-prices http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/regulatory-reform-is-the-way-to-solve-the-problem We urge you not to let the smoke and mirrors of the Op-ed economists dissuade you from your central mission to protect the public form abuse. The Congress is absolutely correct to conclude that it must address the problem of excessive speculation... Consumer Federation of America Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:51:00 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/regulatory-reform-is-the-way-to-solve-the-problem http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/the-link-between-trading-and-rising-prices In order to have a complete explanation, we must also offer a theory of how speculators profits by driving prices up. The Op-ed economists are fond of pointing out that if every commodity transaction matches a buyer and a seller, then winners cancel... Consumer Federation of America Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:50:57 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/the-link-between-trading-and-rising-prices http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/if-fundamentals-did-not-change-we-have-to-find-what-did Our explanation does not stop with correlation, however.  We go a couple steps further in to turn correlation into a proper causal explanation.  First, the patterns of price increases we have observed above are coincident with changes in... Consumer Federation of America Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:50:53 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/if-fundamentals-did-not-change-we-have-to-find-what-did http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/there-is-a-large-speculative-premium-in-the-price-of-oil The analysis of the current oil market must start from the recognition that oil prices have been rising for quite some time, as the following exhibit shows. The price increases between 2002 and 2005 reflected a tight market situation that produced... Consumer Federation of America Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:50:49 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/there-is-a-large-speculative-premium-in-the-price-of-oil http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/market-fundamentals-alone-do-not-explain-the-current-high-prices Both short term and long term fundamentals had been essentially constant over the past six years. The short term measure most frequently cited is spare OPEC capacity. While it has fluctuated, it shows no significant downward trend. In fact, over... Consumer Federation of America Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:50:44 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/market-fundamentals-alone-do-not-explain-the-current-high-prices http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/lack-of-regulation-has-cost-oil-consumers-billions The story has been told many times, but the lessons have still not been learned. The lack of effective prudential regulation of financial and commodity markets leads to excessive speculation, bubbles and bursts that disrupt the economy and cost... Consumer Federation of America Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:50:43 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/lack-of-regulation-has-cost-oil-consumers-billions