ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280099
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF
The prices of gasoline and heating oil are rising in the Roanoke Valley, but there is no sign - at least for now - of a pending shortage.
C.P. "Pat" Flint of Flint's Servicenter on Franklin Road said his wholesale costs have gone up about 5 cents a gallon in the last two weeks. These prices have, naturally, been passed along at the pumps.
When he asked the reason, Flint said, his supplier blamed the imminent arrival of cold weather. That means more crude oil must be diverted at the refineries to the manufacture of heating fuel. Refineries normally make the shift at the end of summer's driving season.
Bruce Keeney, spokesman for the Gasoline Marketers Council in Richmond, said the dealers have no control over the cost of fuel at the pumps.
He said the price increase in recent weeks is caused by a variety of complex factors, including problems in the Middle East. "It's impossible to point your finger at one reason," Keeney said.
Meanwhile, Jim Tolley, spokesman for Fuel Oil and Equipment Co. in Roanoke, said heating oil is priced 13 cents a gallon higher than it was at this time last year.
LENGTH: Short : 30 linesby CNB