Consumer groups urge Congress to stabilize gas prices

WASHINGTON – Consumer groups called on policymakers Wednesday to overhaul the energy legislation now going through Congress to bring back competition and stop the “roller coaster” rise in gasoline prices.

The Consumer Federation of America released a report showing gasoline price increases over the past three years are due to higher costs of domestic oil refining and marketing operations, not overseas oil productions.

“The price roller coaster has not been affected by international factors,” said Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America, at a press conference. Prices go up "when there are very few people competing on the market.”
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