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Gas prices decreasing
Published Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Falling gas prices are offering some relief to local drivers in a time of economic uncertainty.
A gallon of unleaded sat at $2.29 at most Fergus Falls stations early Wednesday, a cent above the state average. A month ago that same gallon registered $3.48, AAA reports.
The cost of diesel is also down from last month, dropping from over $4 to a state average of $3.29 and $3.02 locally.
Staff with the City of Fergus Falls can feel the difference. Russ Bye, fleet and facilities manager, says the tankerload of fuel that arrived Monday cost significantly less than previous purchases.
“The price that was bid to us was a good dollar less (per gallon) than the last time,” he said.
The city orders fuel every two-and-a-half to three months, Bye said, depending in large part on the time of year and what kinds of machinery are in use.
Paul Beyer says he’s saved money when he fills his personal vehicle, but the high cost of diesel remains a burden for his business, Beyer Towing.
“We cannot recover our fuel costs on wrecker calls,” said Beyer, who has four wreckers that rely on diesel and another vehicle that runs on unleaded. “We’re basically swallowing that high cost of fuel.”
The vehicles that move goods and services across the country also require diesel, he said, and the fuel’s cost ultimately affects everyone.
Falling gas prices are in part a reflection of decreased demand. The Department of Transportation said Friday that Americans drove 5.6 percent less in August 2008 compared to the same month a year ago. That means 15 billion fewer miles and the largest ever year-to-year decline recorded in a single month.
And those prices are continuing to drop. Stations in Cambridge posted $2.04 early Wednesday, according to MinnesotaGasPrices.com, with the state’s most expensive stations still under $3. The Associated Press reports costs as low as $1.94 in parts of Missouri over the weekend.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by currentresident (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People still aren't going to go crazy driving around like they used to because I just heard in the news this morning that the credit card comapnies are closing a lot of accounts. Too little too late.
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on October 29, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait until after the elections, and gas prices will be at an all time high. Happens every time.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 3:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Skip himself would build a monorail?? Who's gonna pay for that? I think I speak for everyone in saying that I think Skip would get far more votes if you would quit campaigning for him on here.
Posted by waxwing069 (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And by this time next week, gas will be sky high once again... Every election year the gas price goes way down, Right after the elections, it goes up up up and away...This year will be no different.
Posted by Ole_Potato (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I bought gas while traveling Wednesday in Alexandria at Fleet Farm for $2.07 gallon for 89octane. It was kinda sad, I thought the pump was broken because the numbers appeared to be going up very slowly...Then I realized that was the price and not the gallons. Man did the dollar digits flip fast when gas was $3.97/gallon.
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