How high can gas go? Try $4
Sat, Jan 5, 2008
By EMILY STRANGERThe Brunswick NewsBill Guerrant has his own theory why prices are continuing to climb at the gas pumps. Guerrant, a Jacksonville resident who drives to Brunswick frequently for his company, Avalon Fertilization and Pest Control, feels it's politically driven."With prices the way they are and record oil profits, something doesn't seem right," said Guerrant, filling his vehicle with gas in Brunswick Friday.Regardless, motorists might want to start pinching pennies or carpooling with co-workers.
Bill Guerrant of Jacksonville replaces the nozzle after pumping gas Friday at the Pilot station on U.S. 17 in Brunswick. (Michael Hall/The Brunswick News)
| Gas prices are going up again, jumping overnight by 2 cents a gallon Friday, according to AAA Travel South."In Georgia, we're looking at a jump from $3.01 a gallon on Thursday to $3.03 a gallon on Friday," said Randy Bly, director of community relations for Tampa, Fla.-based AAA Auto Club South. "Gas prices have increased anywhere from 3 to 5 cents over the past week, nationally." Bly said the price increases directly correlate with the cost of crude oil, which is currently selling at $100 a barrel – the highest it's ever been. "There are a lot things going on right now that are not conducive to lower prices," he said. "A lot of it goes back to supply and demand."Don't expect to see the prices drop anytime soon, either. Oil experts predict price increases will continue to rise into spring.According to the Energy Information Administration, a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy, gas prices could peak close to $4 a gallon by summer.Bly said drivers can conserve gas by keeping their vehicles well-maintained and by exercising good driving habits."A lot of people are still driving like gas is 75 cents a gallon," he said. "They'll rush to beat you to a stop sign, slam on their brakes and then take off like a jackrabbit. It's very unnecessary and puts an unneeded demand on our gas supply."Consumers won't be the only ones feeling a strain on their wallet, said Jim Tudor, president of the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores.The high prices will affect vendors, too."A lot of people think that higher gas prices mean the retailers are making more money, but that's not true," he said. "It affects them several ways."For one, when motorists spend more money on fuel outside the store, they spend less on products inside the store, Tudor said.Convenience stores also must pay higher credit card fees when gas is purchased at the pump, he said."It costs vendors somewhere around 3 percent when consumers use credit cards, so extra money goes out in those fees," he said.How to saveRandy Bly, spokesperson for AAA Auto Club South, offers a number of gas-saving tips:* Keep your car well-maintained, especially your engine. * Keep proper air pressure in tires.* Don't carry unnecessary heavy items in your vehicle.* Try to combine errands into one trip.* Maintain a steady speed on open highways.
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