Price of gas at all-time Mass. high

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Price of gas at all-time Mass. high by Robin Washington Wednesday, June 7, 2000

Bay State drivers have seen a new record at the pump - and not one that has motorists celebrating.

After rising an average of four cents per gallon last week, gas prices reached their highest point ever recorded in Massachusetts, according to American Automobile Association of Southern New England.

``It's the highest that we've ever seen in the 20-odd years that we've been recording them,'' said AAA spokesman John Paul.

The average for self-serve regular unleaded was $1.59, with individual stations pricing it from $1.49 to $1.69, the AAA said. Midgrade unleaded averaged at $1.68 and premium full-serve came in at $1.82, with some stations breaking the $2-per-gallon mark at $2.01.

``It's crazy. I paid $1.90 this morning. People like me cannot afford to pay prices like these,'' said William Medina of Lawrence, who said he shells out almost $20 every two days for gas.

Medina said he has considered taking public transportation to his job in Somerville, but finds it impractical.

``The T is cheaper, but I have to wake up at 6 in the morning to take it,'' he said.

Area discount gas leader Stan Hatoff of Hatoff's in Jamaica Plain, who was selling regular for $1.53-9/10 yesterday, said prices have fallen a bit since the survey.

``The last two days it's been going down, but you're not going to see it at the pumps because dealers are working on such a small margin,'' he said.

Bob Boudreau of Somerville's Hillside Service concurred.

``The (oil) companies are sticking it to us. We buy engine oil all the time and it's been holding the same. But gas is unbelievable,'' he said.

The AAA's Paul attributed the increase to summer's high demand following an earlier spike in March.

``The (demand) started to climb just as OPEC prices started to fall. If history means anything they'll continue to go up a little bit in the summer,'' he said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/gas06072000.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 07, 2000


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