Thursday afternoon, I filled up my nearly half-full, trusty Taurus for fifteen bucks. You can enjoy the same proportionate savings if you say, “Fill ‘er up” at the Hess station on Route 22 West (near “The Office” at the Chimney Rock Road exit).
At $1.579 for regular, that Hess location has to be offering one of the lowest cash prices in the area. Miles later, also on Route 22 West, you should find fairly competitive prices beginning at the Exxon Station just past the Shop Rite. But don’t expect them to be the lowest until you get to the Valero and Liberty stations just a couple of miles further down. If you live near the last two fill-up emporiums, expect prices to be competitive with the Hess Chimney Rock Road location.
But don’t hold your breath if you follow Chimney Rock Road up the mountain and onto Washington Valley Road, where the regular price of gas at the Exxon Station near Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville is $1.999. Nor should you expect similar values at some of the other Hess locations in Bridgewater.
Did I mention that my aging tuned-up Taurus delivers 30 mpg’s on the highway?
Showing posts with label Gas Prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gas Prices. Show all posts
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Is This Price Gouging?
On my way back from a few errands in Somerset County, I wanted to fill the half-empty gas tank of my car. Pointing it west on Route 22, I decided to stop at an independent Liberty gas station where, yesterday, September 11, my wife gassed up her auto at $3.39 per gallon, regular.
On the way there, I saw two Exxon stations which service both directions of Route 22, near ShopRite. They posted prices of $3.45. The next gas station going west, Valero, posted $3.59. Just past that, on the eastbound side, Gulf also showed $3.59.
As I approached the Liberty gas station, the posted price for regular had gone up .30¢ overnight to $3.69! I drove past it, turned back east on Route 22, and stopped at the Exxon across from ShopRite, filling up for $3.45. Waiting at the pump, I was in disbelief at the price back at Liberty. I must have misread the big sign on the highway. How could it have gone up .30¢ in 24 hours?
My tank full, I needed to satisfy myself that I had this right. Pulling away from Exxon, I negotiated the first jughandle, reversing direction back west on Route 22. Slowing down slightly as I passed the Liberty gas station, the big sign read $3.69, regular. I wasn’t dreaming!
I hope that Somerset County officials check this out: because, although there may be a sound economic reason for this, it smells like a skunk.
(Note: The word Friday afternoon is that stations ordering gas now may have to pay as much as .50¢ per gallon above the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) price, due to Hurricane Ike. Still, are some stations out there with gas in their storage tanks purchased at lower prices taking advantage of the hurricane to jack up prices?)
On the way there, I saw two Exxon stations which service both directions of Route 22, near ShopRite. They posted prices of $3.45. The next gas station going west, Valero, posted $3.59. Just past that, on the eastbound side, Gulf also showed $3.59.
As I approached the Liberty gas station, the posted price for regular had gone up .30¢ overnight to $3.69! I drove past it, turned back east on Route 22, and stopped at the Exxon across from ShopRite, filling up for $3.45. Waiting at the pump, I was in disbelief at the price back at Liberty. I must have misread the big sign on the highway. How could it have gone up .30¢ in 24 hours?
My tank full, I needed to satisfy myself that I had this right. Pulling away from Exxon, I negotiated the first jughandle, reversing direction back west on Route 22. Slowing down slightly as I passed the Liberty gas station, the big sign read $3.69, regular. I wasn’t dreaming!
I hope that Somerset County officials check this out: because, although there may be a sound economic reason for this, it smells like a skunk.
(Note: The word Friday afternoon is that stations ordering gas now may have to pay as much as .50¢ per gallon above the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) price, due to Hurricane Ike. Still, are some stations out there with gas in their storage tanks purchased at lower prices taking advantage of the hurricane to jack up prices?)
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