Some people and news agencies argue that labor strikes, hurricane threats to oil platforms, fires and terrorist threats at refineries, and other general problems are not responsible for the higher gas prices. Critics argue that these problems periodically push price higher, but that they are not fundamental or long term enough to cause the large jump in gas price. A more fundamental problem that some believe is causing the price to rise is the probability of peak oil already or soon being reached. Not only is there a limited amount of fossil fuel which has been burnt as fuel, but the remaining accessible supply will be consumed more rapidly by a growing, industrializing Third World. What fuel remains will be more difficult to extract since the easiest wells have been tapped; the remaining sources may be fought over in resource wars such as the U.S.-Iraq War.

Others believe that the price of oil is almost entirely speculative, and that the increase in price is due to oil speculation extending into the long term. These people argue that speculators foresee increasing demand, decreasing supply, or both, leading to a long term increase in the price of oil. If these speculators are wrong, current prices may actually be a price bubble, and the price could thus collapse. A July 14, 2005 Morgan Stanley report suggests that opinions of the oil market could burst just like a bubble if indications of declining Asian demand continue.

Still others suggest that the main issue is a lack of energy efficiency in industry. These analysts believe the problem would be solved by increasing the efficiency of factories, homes and transportation and easing the demand crunch by using less energy and more renewable energy.

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