There seems to be a big misconception about how Gas stations operate. I know a thing or two about how they work since my father and his business partner owned 5 of them and I worked for them for couple of summers. Gas stations don't make money from selling gas...they are like drug street pushers. How many street pushers you think make top dollar? If a gas station makes 5 cents per gallon sold they are doing alright. Gas stations typically make most of their money from their food market, especially the sale of Soda, Smokes, and Beer. There are some gas stations that do make a killing but this is only if there is no gas station around them that they have to compete with.
The chain to get gas from the ground to your tank has up to 6 links. Governments selling it, big gas corporations like BP, cured oil transporters, refineries, interstate refined oil transporters, and finally local transporters.
Who do you think takes the biggest cut out of every gallon you buy? Uncle Sam! That's right, your federal "child molesting" Uncle Sam takes 18.4 c/pg cut of each gallon sold. Your local "i hate you" Uncle Sam takes on
average 21 c/pg cut. You think the the federal and state governments have a vested interest in reducing prices? Yes, but only because they are worried people aren't going to go out (drive) and buy other stuff.