Posted 11:40 pm Friday, December 07, 2012
Send to Kindle
Fuel costs dropping across state
Richard Ellis had just filled the tank of his 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup truck Thursday in Tyler when he noticed a sign advertising cheaper fuel.
Ellis, 80, a retired postal worker, was rumbling down Troup Highway and saw gas at the Super 1 Foods for $2.99, slightly less than the $3.02 he paid up the street.
He said he was pleased to see gas slip under $3 a gallon, but that’s still more than it should be, in his opinion.
“I think it should stay down there,” he said. “I think we’re getting ripped off.
“I don’t know what they should be, but they should be lower than what they are. It’s good that they’re down as low as they are.”
The statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded has dropped 2 cents in the past week, AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch noted in a news release.
The average price in Texas the past week sat at $3.14, AAA noted. Motorists in Amarillo paid the most on average at $3.20, while those in Fort Worth paid the least at $3.08. The average price for fuel in Texas was 24 cents less than the national average which was $3.38. The national average dropped 3 cents from one week ago.
But as of Thursday afternoon, at least 10 gas stations in Tyler sold fuel at below $3 a gallon, according to gasbuddy.com.
Murphy USA near the intersection of Texas Highway 64 and Loop 323 on Tyler’s west side carried gas at $2.92.
Other outlets for gas below $3 included Sam’s Club and some Chevron, Fast Fuels, Valero, Texaco, Exxon, Phillips 66 and Super 1 Foods locations.
But some locations still were selling gas between $3.15 and $3.20.
Ellis, 80, a retired postal worker, was rumbling down Troup Highway and saw gas at the Super 1 Foods for $2.99, slightly less than the $3.02 he paid up the street.
He said he was pleased to see gas slip under $3 a gallon, but that’s still more than it should be, in his opinion.
“I think it should stay down there,” he said. “I think we’re getting ripped off.
“I don’t know what they should be, but they should be lower than what they are. It’s good that they’re down as low as they are.”
The statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded has dropped 2 cents in the past week, AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch noted in a news release.
The average price in Texas the past week sat at $3.14, AAA noted. Motorists in Amarillo paid the most on average at $3.20, while those in Fort Worth paid the least at $3.08. The average price for fuel in Texas was 24 cents less than the national average which was $3.38. The national average dropped 3 cents from one week ago.
But as of Thursday afternoon, at least 10 gas stations in Tyler sold fuel at below $3 a gallon, according to gasbuddy.com.
Murphy USA near the intersection of Texas Highway 64 and Loop 323 on Tyler’s west side carried gas at $2.92.
Other outlets for gas below $3 included Sam’s Club and some Chevron, Fast Fuels, Valero, Texaco, Exxon, Phillips 66 and Super 1 Foods locations.
But some locations still were selling gas between $3.15 and $3.20.
AAA noted that while national retail gas prices have dropped daily the past week, crude oil prices have increased slightly, as market attention has focused on the looming U.S. fiscal cliff and the state of the global economy’s health.
The “fiscal cliff” is a combination of possible federal spending cuts, expiring Social Security tax cuts and changes to unemployment benefits.
Congress and President Obama are in negotiations to stave off the fiscal cliff.
Doug Shupe, spokesman for AAA Texas-New Mexico, noted that gas prices have been on a steady decline and should continue to do so.
“We’re hopeful these prices will continue to drop,” Shupe said.
Nationwide, according to gasbuddy.com, the national average Thursday was $3.37. That’s 3 cents down from a week ago and about 12 cents down from a month ago. However, the average was $3.30 a year ago.
Shupe said gas prices varying from station to station is based on location and other factors.
“Some stations are offering additional type promotions,” he said. “Perhaps they’re selling the gas cheaper because they want to have people come in for other goods. It depends on what kind of a station it is.”
Where the prices go from here is anyone’s guess, he said.
“We sure do wish we knew where these prices are going to go,” Shupe said. “We do expect these prices to continue to inch further down as we reach the end of the year. That’s going to benefit a lot of families.”
The “fiscal cliff” is a combination of possible federal spending cuts, expiring Social Security tax cuts and changes to unemployment benefits.
Congress and President Obama are in negotiations to stave off the fiscal cliff.
Doug Shupe, spokesman for AAA Texas-New Mexico, noted that gas prices have been on a steady decline and should continue to do so.
“We’re hopeful these prices will continue to drop,” Shupe said.
Nationwide, according to gasbuddy.com, the national average Thursday was $3.37. That’s 3 cents down from a week ago and about 12 cents down from a month ago. However, the average was $3.30 a year ago.
Shupe said gas prices varying from station to station is based on location and other factors.
“Some stations are offering additional type promotions,” he said. “Perhaps they’re selling the gas cheaper because they want to have people come in for other goods. It depends on what kind of a station it is.”
Where the prices go from here is anyone’s guess, he said.
“We sure do wish we knew where these prices are going to go,” Shupe said. “We do expect these prices to continue to inch further down as we reach the end of the year. That’s going to benefit a lot of families.”
