Residents, Businesses Keep Wary Eye on Rising Gas Prices
Mitch Lancaster pumps gas Tuesday at Short Stop in Southern Pines. Glenn M. Sides
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Carl Smith says he is determined to keep prices down, even as gasoline prices continue to rise.
The owner of the Lunch Box that Rocks in Southern Pines said Tuesday that he and other small business owners are feeling the strain of increasing gas prices in the form of higher food prices and vendor delivery charges.
On Feb. 3, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in North Carolina was $3.17, according to the website northcarolinaprices.com. On Tuesday, prices had jumped to an average of $3.38.
"The cost comes across the board," he said. "I'm not extending it down to my customers. I will eat it. I'll make it up somewhere else.
"If I have to cut the lights off an hour earlier to make it up, I will."
Smith said it doesn't make sense to him to vary his prices to coincide with fluctuating gas prices.
"We are all optimistic that prices will come down," he said.
A spokesperson for AAA Carolinas isn't as optimistic as Smith that gas prices will come down anytime soon.
"I think it's going to get worse before it gets better," said Tom Crosby, of AAA Carolinas.
Moore County's gas prices are in line with the averages across the United States, according to AAA's daily fuel report.
Gas prices usually rise slightly in early spring as supplies are cut back in preparation for the switch over to the more expensive summer blend. That change coupled with the ongoing instability and political unrest in the Middle East is a "double whammy" for gas prices, according to Crosby.
Since January, the price has jumped by an average of 35 cents a gallon. Gas prices on average are about 70 cents higher than they were a year ago, according to the information on northcarolinagasprices.com.
Crosby said it is anybody's guess how high prices may go.
"Nobody really knows," he said. "If the unrest in the Middle East spreads to, say, Saudi Arabia or other countries, and and oil supplies are limited, that could skyrocket prices."
As prices have surged over the past few days, consumers have struggled with the decision to fill up.
"I can't believe it," said Gee Hildebrand of Southern Pines. "It's just horrible."
On Tuesday Hildebrand was filling her car up at the Mac's Food Store on Morganton Road. The cost of a regular gallon of gas there on Tuesday was $3.38.
Hildebrand said it cost her $54 to fill up. That is about $16 more than normal, she said.
In an effort to conserve gas and increase her car's fuel efficiency, Hildebrand said she has been coasting more. The strategy has netted her just more than a mile per gallon more, she said.
Crosby said there are a few things that drivers can do to conserve gas and save money.
He suggests drivers maintain a speed as close to the posted limits as possible, espcially on the highways. Speeds above 65 mph, he said, can decrease gas mileage. Maintaining proper tire pressure and keeping your vehicle's air filter clean can help boost gas mileage.
He also suggests consolidating trips, which is something Hildebrand nd others say they are doing.
"I try to make less trips to town and do all my errands in one day," said Barbara Dreisbach, of Southern Pines.
Dreisbach said she has driven across the country about 35 times in her life. She and her husband plan to make another cross-country trip this summer to visit family.
She said they will likely try to recoup some of the cost of the higher gas by staying in cheaper hotels, but eliminating the annual trip isn't in their plans.
Hildebrand, too, said the higher prices won't dissuade her from making a family trip North this summer.
"We've conserved all along to make this trip and it (higher price of gas) is not going to stop us from going," she said.-
According to the AAA's daily fuel gauge on its website, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.375.
Nationally, the highest price per gallon is in California and other Western states. Some areas of California are already reporting prices near $4 per gallon.
Gas prices topped $4 per gallon in the summer of 2008, hitting a national high of $4.11 in mid-July.
"It's kind of scary," Dreisbach said of the thought of paying $4 a gallon. "I can remember when we could drive all night on $1 worth of gas."
Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.
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Comments
Bflat 2 years, 2 months ago
When it hits $5, people will really have to buckle down. Stock up on food supplies now and save money when that goes up even more later.
SoPinesNo1 2 years, 2 months ago
It seems impossible that prices can inflate so much so quickly. I was under the impression that there was a law that prevented stations from raising the price until they have a delivery that reflects a higher purchase price. I needed gas last night and the Kangaroo at the corner of Saunders Blvd. was $3.339. I waited until this morning and it had risen to $3.439. How is that possible? I bypassed the Kangaroo, and went to the Quality Mart on South Broad Street, it was $3.299 there. Fourteen cents cheaper 1/2 mile away. Shop around, and don't give in to the price gougers.
Bflat 2 years, 2 months ago
3.45 as I passed through Tramway in Lee County this afternoon. It's usually cheaper there than in Moore County. So look on Thursday to see if it went up. It was 3.34 in Carthage on Sunday.
Jibbs 2 years, 2 months ago
Don't forget, a lot of the price of fuel is because of taxes. North Carolina is by far taxed the most out of our bordering states. Our fuel is taxed the 13th highest in the nation (32.5 cents)
http://www2.scnow.com/news/2011/jan/06/nc-gas-tax-drives-some-residents-south-fuel-ar-1310178/
It's the "tax the rich" mentality. Liberals are naive enough to believe that taxing companies means those taxes will come out of company salaries. . . hardly. We as consumers pay those taxes.
Ross 2 years, 2 months ago
OH SHADDUP already........
intrepidreader 2 years, 2 months ago
Though I'm sure consumers eyes get weary, I suspect the headline should have read wary.
hchase 2 years, 2 months ago
Thanks. Error has been fixed.
estwd 2 years, 2 months ago
This sucks! Lower the gas price.
carlj1161 2 years, 2 months ago
It's comments like this that makes me wonder if God should just wave his hand and annihilate the human race. Because if there are so many people that can't get past the Liberal / Conservative differences, then there is no hope at all, and I am a Moderate. I think the issue is more complex than just drilling for oil in the U.S. It has to do with the markets, technology, and political situation here and abroad.
leftfield 2 years, 2 months ago
One of Moore County's finest right here. Please do some reading before you post anymore ignorant ramblings.
coffecreme 2 years, 2 months ago
blah blah blah
LB67 2 years, 2 months ago
it never fails, some wacko is going to turn an article into a left/ right debate spewing hate, you are truly patethic chiefhammer
Ken711 2 years, 2 months ago
Self-sufficient? Umm..... not even close to that with the known oil reserves.
kingelizabeth 2 years, 2 months ago
Here's a website: www.gasbuddy.com Just enter your zip code and you can find the lowest prices. Of course the lowest have to be reported, but I just checked and there are several listings for the Aberdeen area...the lowest as of 12:15 PM is $ 3.29.
fugitiveguy 2 years, 2 months ago
Our dependence on foreign oil is possibly THE biggest failure of our politicians both Dem and Rep. I was just a kid in the 70's when I first became aware of our dependence on the Middle east for our energy. So now 4 decades later and it seems that we have made no progress. It is true we should be drilling our axes off right now but equally important is to be fast tracking research and development on other sources. I cannot believe that 50mpg could not be the norm right now on a gasoline engine vehicle.
hotdiggity 2 years, 2 months ago
The price of gasoline is rising, and will continue to rise, because all gasoline is traded using the American Dollar as method of payment. As the value of the dollar is futher eroded by the non-stop printing of even more worthless dollars, the price will rise. Food and energy cost are not used to calulate inflation, lucky us ignorance is bliss.
fwanko 2 years, 2 months ago
Thank you Pilot for posting the prices of the local stations. Funny, you don't have Mac's listed. I wonder why, maybe because they've jacked up their price again to $3.45 when I went by there tonight.
mbamberry 2 years, 2 months ago
The information comes from the website gasbuddy.com (refresh the page for updates) - the site allows you to sign up and submit prices of gas stations - it relies completely on people to provide the information and we may make this a permanent part of the website if readers show enough interest. You can report gas prices here > http://www.northcarolinagasprices.com/ReportGasPrices.aspx
Mark B
Web Dev - ThePilot.com
Bflat 2 years, 2 months ago
I noticed a change in food prices. Lots of produce has gone up in comparison to last week's prices. That's because of increases in gas prices that affects the delivery. Eventually the truckers might strike and then food distribution will be delayed.
mooremedic 2 years, 2 months ago
Gas prices have alot to do with food prices, but this time produce had a spike due to late season frost in certain areas....iceberg lettuce went from .99 to $1.99 in one week...
teufelhunden 2 years, 2 months ago
God bless our truckers!