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09-16-2006, 10:56 PM
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Updated: Saturday, September 16, 2006 12:03 AM CDT
Price drop eases gas pump pinch
http://www.herald-review.com/images/rss.gif (http://www.herald-review.com/?rss=news/local_news)By MIKE FRAZIER - H&R Staff WriterDECATUR - Motorists' spirits are rising as gas prices continue to fall.
"So far, over the last two weeks, prices are down 20 percent, probably," said David Dougherty Jr., owner of D&D Marathon on North Water Street. "It's probably come down roughly 50 cents in the last three weeks."
Prices in Decatur averaged about $2.45 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Report. Individual pumps in Decatur dipped just below $2.40 per gallon by Friday afternoon.
Last month, Decatur pump prices averaged $3.09 per gallon.
Decatur continues to be below the national average of $2.55 for a gallon of regular gasoline, according to Fuel Gauge Report.
An informal nationwide survey conducted by the North County Times of Escondido, Calif., earlier this week found gas prices ranging from $2.12 at a station in Park Hills, Mo., to an average of $3.53 on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Californians pay about 61 cents in taxes for every gallon of gasoline. The figure is 9 cents more than the next highest state, Illinois, and almost four times more than the lowest state, Kentucky.
The survey consisted of a sample of gas prices in cities with newspapers in the Lee Enterprises chain. Lee owns 58 daily newspapers across the country, including the Herald & Review, North County Times and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The survey covered states from New York to Oregon.
Dougherty said local motorists are pleased with the downward trend in prices.
"Most of them got thick-skinned with these high prices the last couple of years," Dougherty said. "Their first reaction was to raise hell, but they realize the guys they're giving money to don't have any control (over gas prices)."
The price of crude oil continues to fall, said Nicole Niemi, a spokeswoman for AAA Chicago. Crude oil prices have dipped from a high of about $78 per barrel, Niemi said. On Friday, prices went below $63 per barrel.
Middle East tensions have eased. In recent weeks, Iran agreed to talks about its nuclear program and a ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hezbollah, Niemi said. The hurricane season also hasn't been as bad as predicted.
"If the political situation and the weather situation remain stable, gas prices should, also," Niemi said.
Prices typically dip in the fall. Travel generally declines after Labor Day, so demand isn't as high. Pumps will switch to winter fuel blends, which are less expensive to refine, Niemi said.
Still, experts caution, no one has a crystal ball.
"As you know, anything can change," Niemi said.
Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com (mfrazier@herald-review.com) or 421-7985. The North County Times in Escondido, Calif., contributed to this story.
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http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/09/16/news/local_news/1017796.txt
Updated: Saturday, September 16, 2006 12:03 AM CDT
Price drop eases gas pump pinch
http://www.herald-review.com/images/rss.gif (http://www.herald-review.com/?rss=news/local_news)By MIKE FRAZIER - H&R Staff WriterDECATUR - Motorists' spirits are rising as gas prices continue to fall.
"So far, over the last two weeks, prices are down 20 percent, probably," said David Dougherty Jr., owner of D&D Marathon on North Water Street. "It's probably come down roughly 50 cents in the last three weeks."
Prices in Decatur averaged about $2.45 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Report. Individual pumps in Decatur dipped just below $2.40 per gallon by Friday afternoon.
Last month, Decatur pump prices averaged $3.09 per gallon.
Decatur continues to be below the national average of $2.55 for a gallon of regular gasoline, according to Fuel Gauge Report.
An informal nationwide survey conducted by the North County Times of Escondido, Calif., earlier this week found gas prices ranging from $2.12 at a station in Park Hills, Mo., to an average of $3.53 on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Californians pay about 61 cents in taxes for every gallon of gasoline. The figure is 9 cents more than the next highest state, Illinois, and almost four times more than the lowest state, Kentucky.
The survey consisted of a sample of gas prices in cities with newspapers in the Lee Enterprises chain. Lee owns 58 daily newspapers across the country, including the Herald & Review, North County Times and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The survey covered states from New York to Oregon.
Dougherty said local motorists are pleased with the downward trend in prices.
"Most of them got thick-skinned with these high prices the last couple of years," Dougherty said. "Their first reaction was to raise hell, but they realize the guys they're giving money to don't have any control (over gas prices)."
The price of crude oil continues to fall, said Nicole Niemi, a spokeswoman for AAA Chicago. Crude oil prices have dipped from a high of about $78 per barrel, Niemi said. On Friday, prices went below $63 per barrel.
Middle East tensions have eased. In recent weeks, Iran agreed to talks about its nuclear program and a ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hezbollah, Niemi said. The hurricane season also hasn't been as bad as predicted.
"If the political situation and the weather situation remain stable, gas prices should, also," Niemi said.
Prices typically dip in the fall. Travel generally declines after Labor Day, so demand isn't as high. Pumps will switch to winter fuel blends, which are less expensive to refine, Niemi said.
Still, experts caution, no one has a crystal ball.
"As you know, anything can change," Niemi said.
Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com (mfrazier@herald-review.com) or 421-7985. The North County Times in Escondido, Calif., contributed to this story.
Subscribe to the Herald & Review by Clicking Here! (https://secure.townnews.com/herald-review.com/secure/custservice/subscribe.php)-
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/09/16/news/local_news/1017796.txt