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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (5866)	5/4/2007 4:43:10 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24232

With gas prices up, station stops the pump Click-2-Listen By ADAM J. HOLLAND Thursday, May 03, 2007 At least one local service station has stopped pumping gasoline because of the increasing fuel prices. Spring Hill Pit Stop has been without fuel at its Gilmer Road location for about two weeks — and future fuel sales are up in the air, according to owner Kevin McCloskey. Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo (ENLARGE) Spring Hill Pit Stop has a sign on its pumps apoligizing to customers for no gas Wednesday. The sign reads, 'Out of gas until further notice, due to high fuel cost. Sorry for the inconvenience.' "When I make a 5 percent profit on gasoline and my price jumps 30 to 33 percent, the profit doesn't cover the increase," McCloskey said. "I really don't know when I'll be selling gas again." As of Wednesday afternoon, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Texas was $2.86 per gallon, which is a penny less than this time last year, but 30 cents more than a month ago, according to the American Automobile Association. The highest-ever recorded average price for regular unleaded in Texas was $2.96 per gallon on Sept. 4, 2005, the AAA said. According to Microsoft Networks, Longview customers paid an average of $2.84 per gallon Wednesday, with the lowest reported price at $2.64. Nationally, consumers paid an average price of $2.97 per gallon Wednesday for regular unleaded. McCloskey said part of his problem with gasoline prices is that he is an independent dealer, unlike many convenience stores that are owned by oil companies. "I'm not branded, so I have five days to pay my gasoline bill, which basically means I have to have the money upfront," he said. "So if I don't make enough money from one load to cover the next one, I can't buy it." Although the pumps are turned off, McCloskey said other facets of his business are still operating. "I make my money doing repairs, tires and computer diagnostics," he said. "Gas, for me, is strictly a nice thing to do for people who can't pump their own. But at the current prices, I can't justify its cost." Because his station offers full fuel service, McCloskey said his gasoline prices are generally 10 to 15 cents more than self-service stores. "But the markup doesn't do much good if you don't have gas to sell," he said. news-journal.com