"John H" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:28:07 GMT, "Doug Kanter"

wrote:


"John H" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 14:58:56 GMT, "Doug Kanter"

wrote:

"P. Fritz" wrote in message
...


Black markets tend to develop when guvmints interfer with supply and
demand.....

A black market is just one example of an adjustment made in response to
an
unstable environment. War is another example of an unstable environment,
and
both have an effect on prices. Ask anyone who was an adult during the
2nd
world war.

In what way did they affect prices?

Simple version: In response to shortages, the prices of such things as raw
metal products and coffee increased. Now, the price of oil is increasing
due
to PERCEIVED stressors on the market. I say "perceived" because there is
NO
supply shortage, and the mythical demand you like to talk about is not
enough to explain the drastic price increases over the past couple of
years.

China's mythical?

No, John. But when you listen to the grownup news, you'll hear from people
IN THE OIL INDUSTRY that China's demand has NOT soared over the past 2-3
years enough to have the effect attributed to it.

I know it's easy to say "China", but you really need to expend a bit more
effort to understand this.