Driving Force -- Gasoline Prices Rise Again Prices that were stable are again responding to shifts in oil prices.

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

By JULIA FERRANTE The Ledger

LAKELAND -- If you've been comparing prices at the gasoline pumps lately, you've probably noticed they are about as predictable as slot machines.

Prices that seemed to have stabilized have risen and fallen with no particular consistency during the past few weeks as stations respond to fluctuation in oil prices and struggle to stay competitive.

"(Most likely), that gas station that's higher has just bought new fuel and has had to pass on the price to the consumer," said Yoli Buss, director of traffic safety for AAA Autoclub South in Tampa.

"If they are still low, they have cheaper gas left over or they are a convenience store or they have a mechanic, so they can make their money on cigarettes and parts and sell gas below or at cost."

Gasoline prices were an average $1.465 per gallon nationally and $1.52 per gallon statewide, according to AAA -- an average 30.8 cents higher than last year.

In Lakeland, gasoline was an average 3.5 cents higher than last month at about $1.46 per gallon, AAA said. While convenience store stations, including Speedway and Farm Stores, tended to hold low at $1.40 per gallon, an informal survey showed that some stations had increased their prices as much as 13 cents in recent weeks, from about $1.38 per gallon in late April to $1.51 Tuesday.

Buss, of AAA, said it is typical this time of year to see a rise in gas prices as summer -- the peak driving season -- approaches.

But she said some of the fluctuation is due to "creative" pricing.

"Some stations may have regular lower, but midgrade and premium may be higher," she said. "Others may make midgrade or premium lower. They have to do stuff to be competitive."

Buss said it's unfair to compare prices to last year, when oil was unusually inexpensive. She also noted that prices today, with inflation, are no higher than they were in 1981.

"We'll never see prices as low as last year again," she said. "I would encourage people to shop around. There are still good gas prices to be found."

http://www.theledger.com/top_stories/17gas.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), May 17, 2000