There's a popular drawing of a forest out there, whos artist's name escapes me at the moment. Anyway, when you look at the picture, you at first just see a forest wall, trees, brush, roots, branches, etc. However, change your perspective, get rid of any pre-concieved notions, and you'll see a 16th century gothic city. Anyway, that's how I think you've got to look at this little deal here. A hemi-billion dollar oil company raises it's oil prices, even though none of it's rigs were lost during some hurricane or natural disaster, but still wants to keep up with the big dawg companys, so it gouges it's prices anyway. It doesn't matter to them, people need gas, they can't practically live without it, so they can sell it at whatever price they want. Anyway, they strategically raise their prices and give the consumers some pocket change that they'll inevitably spend on gas anyway. Even if not directly on gas, then they'll buy some groceries or a dvd player. That dvd player has to be shipped, and shipping comes at the expense of oil. Win/Win situation for the "generous", multi-billion-dollar-a-year oil company.