Gas prices soar to record in Michigan, again June 6, 2000, 2:18 PM

DETROIT (AP) -- With gasoline prices at record highs across the state, Terry Williams' customers aren't thrilled when they fill their tanks.

"But there's not much they can do. I just pass it along, that's all I can do. Everybody's talking about downsizing their car, like they did in the 70s," said Williams, who owns Williams Standard & Grocery in Levering, just south of Mackinaw City.

Average prices rose 6.5 cents this week, to $1.740, breaking the state record set just last week, AAA Michigan said. The price for a gallon of self-serve regular is 57.5 cents higher than at this time last year, shows the auto club's weekly statewide fuel survey.

That's the highest price since the Dearborn club began tracking gas prices in 1973 in Michigan. The increase marks five straight weeks of increases, adding up to 35.9 cents since May 8, AAA Michigan said.

"It's expensive," said Detroit motorist Michael Russell, who isn't planning to drive less despite higher gas costs. "We'll just have to get used to it."

At Castle's Service Station in Coldwater, employee Mark James said customers coming in for repairs aren't happy about this week's leap in gasoline prices.

"They're worried about the price of repairing their cars, with the price of gas being so high," he said Tuesday.

James sympathizes. It costs about $30 to fill his car's tank, and he's driving less these days.

"We only drive when we have to," he said.

But preliminary figures for AAA Michigan's survey of 500 state residents' Fourth of July travel plans found 20 percent expect to travel over the holiday, club spokesman Jim Rink said Tuesday. That compares with 19 percent who reported travel plans before the 1999 Independence Day holiday weekend.

Of those surveyed, about a third said higher gas prices would impact their summer vacation plans, Rink said. Of that third, about 25 percent of people surveyed said they would reduce the length of trips, he added.

"That means they'll be staying closer to home, they'll be staying in Michigan and spending their travel dollars in Michigan," Rink said. "So it could actually help Michigan's travel."

The weekly fuel survey found the average per-gallon price in the Detroit area is $1.640, compared with $1.592 last week.

Some analysts say gas prices, when adjusted for inflation, are cheaper than the record set two decades ago. Trilby Lundberg, whose California-based Lundberg Survey polls 10,000 stations nationwide, maintains the true high came in June 1980, with an average price of $2.66 for all gas grades combined when adjusted for inflation.

Gasoline prices have been rising across the nation since March, when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cut crude oil production to try to boost prices that had fallen to 12-year lows

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw13736_20000606.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 06, 2000

Answers

Martin, the premium price has inched it's way back up to 1.79. Some may say, "it is still a bargain". But I fear this "bargain" is realized only by those who have the extra to pay for it. I pass the "Day Labor" pool office every day. They seem to be a-lining. Thank You Jesus, for a steady job.

-- Gas Prices (helpthosewhoc@n't.com), June 06, 2000.