I have a legit question, please answer this seriously.
Is the demand for Oil an independent variable from the demand for gasoline?
if yes then is the supply of gasoline dependent upon the supply for oil?
For the sakes, let us approach this from the global macro perspective and the use of WTI and/or Brent.
I cannot answer on the global perspective, but I wanted to relay to you an interesting phenomena I witnessed in Aug 2017, when Hurricane Harvey was entering the Gulf Of Mexico...
I naturally thought that CL and RB would both increase due to output reductions, but while RBOB prices rose significantly for a short while, WTI prices dropped significantly. I recall this being a very short-term phase, and the only logic I could assign it was that since refineries were all closing, that meant RB supply shortage. So RBOB went up. But CL went down, because with the refineries closed there was no immediate demand for it.
Over the longer term, I believe the two are closely correlated though.
As for the tit-for-tat approach?
Is the demand for Oil an independent variable from the demand for gasoline?
From an industry-supply side I'd say yes, because oil is used for a LOT more than just making gasoline.
if yes then is the supply of gasoline dependent upon the supply for oil?
Well, yeah, since you need oil to make gasoline.
I am just drawing logical conclusions here, and cannot take into account all the other variables because I don't know the industry.