THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120715
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LON WAGNER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Prices are rising at the gasoline pump.
In Hampton Roads, that has meant prices that usually jump in May have gone up earlier than in the past.
A gallon of premium gasoline at Greenbrier Citgo now costs $1.39, a gallon of low-grade costs $1.19. Both are up about 20 cents a gallon since February, says George Bator, owner of the station.
``When the prices go up, I think cities like ours feel the pinch much much more than major metropolitan areas, because that's a small volume of gross pay for them,'' Bator said. ``We're in an area that is pretty far down the feeding chain for overall annual salary.''
Blame the long, cold winter for the increases. The weather forced refiners to keep producing heating oil and kerosene - rather than gasoline.
Nationally, the current price for a gallon of gasoline is $1.29 averaged for all grades. The U.S. Department of Energy says that could rise to $1.35 before fall starts.
Miller Oil Co. Inc. in Norfolk has not seen a significant increase in demand, said vice president Jeff Miller. This spring's increased prices could just be an adjustment after the long winter.
So will Hampton Roads motorists face a spring boost in pump prices in addition to the late-winter jump?
Miller said that might depend on the weather. If the next month is abnormally cold, gasoline prices might go up again. But ``if the weather turns mild and they start playing baseball in Boston,'' pressure on crude oil will drop and prices may even go down slightly, Miller said. by CNB