I pay 33 cents a gallon for water, plus $9 a pound for the coffee I filter most of it through; gas hit $1.80 here the other day.
I doubt very seriously there is any more price manipulation going on with gas prices than there was in, say, the California energy market two years ago.
I am a cynical old bastard.
BTW - Nyquil is available in bulk at your discount liquor store. I think they call it Creme de Menthe.