By Jeff Shultz
Managing Editor
April 26, 2008 01:35 am
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Gas prices in the Pauls Valley area continue to rise as the price of oil flirts with an all time high of $120 per barrel.
According to AAA of Oklahoma, gas prices in this area are at record levels with the average price for a gallon of gas at $3.38 for regular unleaded.
That’s a jump from $3.298 per gallon last week and $3.151 last month and just short of a $1 per gallon rise from one year ago when the average price of gas in Pauls Valley was $2.669 per gallon.
The national gas price average today is $3.445, also a record high.
“As the national average price of gasoline approaches $3.50 per gallon, we’re all wondering whether we’ll see $4 gas this year,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Although it’s hard to believe the national average will rise another 55 cents, it’s important to remember that the threat of a major disruption in either the production or the distribution of oil or gas has the potential to send prices off the charts. We’ve seen it happen before.”
Five of Oklahoma’s six neighboring states are also seeing all-time high gas price averages today: Missouri at $3.305; Arkansas, $3.347; Texas, $3.360; Colorado, $3.394; and New Mexico, $3.429. Kansas’s average today of $3.358 is less than one cent away from the state’s highest price average ever.
“Unfortunately, as long as crude oil prices are at record highs, where they are today on the NYMEX, there’s upward pressure on pump prices,” Mai said.
Only four states have lower gasoline price averages today than Oklahoma: New Jersey at $3.193; New Hampshire, $3.295; South Carolina, $3.298; and Missouri.
According to AAA of Oklahoma, gas prices in Pauls Valley range anywhere $3.299 per gallon to $3.479 per gallon.
The lowest gas price for gas in Pauls Valley is at the Pak-A-Way Fina station on South Chickasaw where gas is at $3.299 per gallon.
The highest price, AAA reports, is $3.479 per gallon at Leonard’s Super Stop on Grant Avenue.
Lenny Brumley, owner of Leonard’s Super Stop, said the reason his gas is higher than other convenience stores in town is because he’s the only independent buyer of gas in town.
“I purchase my gas myself. I’m not owned by a chain of stores or an oil company that can purchase gas at a lower price,” Brumley said.
Brumley said other stations’ gas prices are determined by their distributor or the company who owns the store.
“I’m paying more for gas than anyone else in town,” he said.
Brumley added other factors in his gas prices include the utilities and maintenance costs it takes to operate gas pumps.
“I can only hope to break even,” he said. “If I didn’t already have the investment in my equipment I wouldn’t sell gas. I’m basically trading dollars.”
Brumley said he’s making less on fuel now than he’s ever made.
“Believe me, if I was getting rich on gas I wouldn’t be working 12 to 15 hours a day at my store,” he said.
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