Book excerpt: This primer will help improve public understanding of the major factors that influence the U.S. price of gasoline & the challenges facing the U.S. on issues related to gasoline supply, demand, & prices. This primer presents information on the factors that influence the price of gasoline &, to the extent possible, why those factors have developed. Specifically, it explains how gasoline is made & distributed, what consumers pay for in a gallon of gasoline, why gasoline prices change over time, & why gasoline prices vary from place to place. The information is presented in a question-&-answer format & is written for a nontechnical audience. Charts, tables & graphs.