— Misti Strader/Tribune-Courier || Benton resident Don Thomas fuels up his lawn mower at the Shell station in Benton.

Gas prices on the rise; no relief in sight for consumers

By Misti Strader
Tribune-Courier News Editor
mstrader@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Quality of life for many Americans is being affected from coast to coast by exorbitant gas prices which aren’t expected to fall any time soon.

In fact, experts at the nations Energy Department estimate that fuel prices will crest at an all time high, anticipated between $4 and $5 per gallon, by Labor Day.

The Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) reported that the first full week of April began with Americans paying about $287 million more per day for gasoline than they paid a year ago, and $712 million more than on this day five years ago.
The average nationwide gasoline price stands at $3.459 a gallon, up 57.6 cents a gallon from last year and $1.70 above prices on the same day in 2003.

Every single state finds prices up at least 41 cents a gallon from April 7, 2007, and two-thirds of states have surpassed the “tipping point” of $3.25 gal, a number which OPIS has determined clearly provoked cutbacks by consumers in recent history.

According to a study conducted by Sacred Heart University, more than 75 percent of Americans report that skyrocketing gasoline prices are very seriously impacting their own quality of life.

As a result, criminal behavior is on the rise. No-pay fuel drive-offs have spiked by 12 percent in some areas of the state in the wake of increasing fuel prices, costing gas station owners big bucks.

In an attempt to curtail the behavior, counties throughout the Commonwealth are moving toward controversial mandatory pre-pay initiatives to minimize losses at the pump.

But consumers aren’t the only ones turning to criminal behavior in an effort to find a cheap way out.

Rising fuel costs have prompted state inspectors to check every gas station fuel pump in Kentucky. They’re looking for water in gas, additives or anything else that could reduce fuel quality.

Such deceptive measures often surface during economic crunch times, and with gas averaging $3.30 a gallon, there is certainly cause for concern.

Local truck drivers and independent contractors are suffering the burden as much or more than anyone else.
Wholesale diesel prices ended March at an all-time high of $3.288 a gallon, with the average retail diesel price coming in at $4.179.

The largest increases of nearly 50 cents a gallon occurred in northeastern states, but according to OPIS, most every region saw price advances of at least .41.8 cents.

Across the board, everyone is being affected. Some schools across the state are finding it necessary to put a hold on all student field trips, and nationally, there are reports of schools being forced to provide cheaper, less-healthy lunch alternatives for children due to increased transportation costs being passed on to schools.

Prices at the pump have been pushed to levels many couldn’t conceive of even a year ago, and analysts and the Energy Department are both expecting the cost of gas to rise even further this spring and summer.

Grocery costs have also spiked, as everything that must travel to reach consumers has a fuel premium tacked on.

The snowball effects of rising transportation costs eventually ripple into every retail transaction across the nation.

It could be said, though, that senior citizens seem to be hit the hardest. It is estimated that one in seven Marshall County residents lives on a fixed income, making them vulnerable to financial crisis as fuel costs continue to rise.

“My husband and I did not plan for this 10 years ago when we planned our retirement,” Marie Linden of Benton said.” It costs me $75 just to fill up our vehicle. That is money that we could be using for our medications and living expenses. We go to and from doctor’s appointments and to the grocery, but other than that, we stay home because we just can’t afford to pay for the gas.”

In an effort to help consumers battle prices at the pump, the Tribune–Courier will be reporting the lowest gas prices in the county and posting them for your convenience each week.

We’ll also be looking at how soaring gas prices are affecting our local economy and our local residents. Be sure to check out our “Looking for the cheapest gas” feature each week.