Smart purchasing people separate out fuel and freight costs to pass those up the supply chain to the end customer. When gas prices rose in the mid 2000s, many companies adopted fuel surcharges and passed the costs to their clients. For companies with large fuel demands, they entered into futures contracts to lock in purchased prices to avoid volatile fluctuations in prices.
But if gas is a conscious purchasing decision based on a system, why are you even complaining as you could avoid the higher gas prices by not buying gas or you could have purchased and stored gas at the lower prices. But since arbitrary means random, and without a system, then how can someone even condemn anyone for the random results of random actions in and environment lacking a system. Itโs like an anal retentive arguing structure to someone who specializes in the study of chaos theory
Economists also recognize that human nature can drive irrational purchasing decisions so arbitrary decisions are part of a larger macroeconomic system. Since, the purchaser of the gas has to weigh the costs of the gas vs the benefits provided from the income obtained by going to work,they determined that the income is higher than the costs, itโs not an arbitrary decision after all
The Economist might first argue it makes no rational sense to go on a drive cross country, ride their motorcycle, go out on the boat or personal watercraft (jet skis) amd so for as there is no economic benefit. But that same Economist would then look at the pleasure and stress relief provided from those activities and compare them to potential lost productivity from mental health issues of not spending money to buy gas on activities to relieve that stress and realize paying more for gas might be very rational after all.
The Economist would recognize that the ice storm in Texas impact about 25% of domestic supplies and is still recovery from that pushing demand higher than supply driving prices higher. The Economist would recognize that OPEC countries have not increased production to lower prices to help them recover from the lower demand from the previous Covid waves. The Economist would recognize that the US has become energy self-sufficient (something Trump hyped repeatedly as being an exporter) and any attempt to influence OPEC countries to lower prices would be a reversal of that policy.
Ultimately, the Economist might say that if you donโt like higher gas prices, get an electric powered car, carpool, buy a scooter or take the damn bus/subway and stop crying like a baby.