Less gasoline pains

Gas prices are high here, but they could be worse -- a fact that will become increasingly clear to Cape Girardeau-area motorists who top off their tanks elsewhere while traveling during the Labor Day weekend.

In St. Louis, a gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gas costs $1.61. In Kansas City, it's $1.67. In Springfield, Mo., it's $1.59.

In Cape Girardeau, however, the cost was about $1.45 Friday afternoon, 10 cents cheaper than it had been earlier in the week and almost 15 cents cheaper than last week's high of $1.59.

"This price is great to me," said Jon Niswonger, who was filling up at Huck's on South Kingshighway. "I'm shocked to see it this low."

Niswonger, who lives in Anna, Ill., travels as part of his job. He puts 400 to 500 miles a day on his car.

"This is 27 cents cheaper than what I just bought over in Anna," said Niswonger, who watches gas prices closely. "At Jonesboro, it's a buck-seventy. In West Plains, it was $1.65. Up in Mount Vernon, it's $1.70. So this seems cheap to me."

It's higher almost everywhere else. In fact, according to AAA Missouri, the state average is $1.61.

Earlier this week, the Lundberg Survey reported its biggest two-week jump ever -- 15 cents per gallon -- and a national average of nearly $1.75 per gallon, just short of the survey's all-time high weighted average.

Why the increase?

A combination of factors led to the recent spike in gas prices, including high demand, a pipeline rupture in Arizona and the massive power outage that shut down refineries in the Midwest and Pennsylvania.

Even though Cape Girardeau is having it easier than most places, a year ago the state average was $1.31.

"It's higher than usual, but Missouri has not suffered consequences like California, Nevada and Arizona," said Mike Right with AAA in St. Louis. "It's low compared to other parts of the country. The reason is simple: Supply is tight, demand is strong."

The higher prices haven't scared off drivers. AAA predicted 33.4 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend, the highest number since 1995. And 28.2 million, or 84 percent, were expected to travel by motor vehicle.

Scott Blank, president of the company that owns Bi-State convenience stores in Cape Girardeau, said the prices have changed quickly.

"It went up to $1.59," Blank said. "Then it came down Wednesday. Last week, we saw a 10-cent spike overnight. But we should stay where we're at throughout the rest of the weekend."

Blank agreed that drivers will see higher prices while they travel.

"We don't have it bad," Blank said. "People will come back and appreciate what they have here."

Jim Maurer, a partner in the Rhodes 101 stores, said the prices are raised and lowered based on wholesale prices that the store pays.

"The wholesale has been crazy," he said. "We keep hearing the same thing you read in the news: Inventory's tight and the blackout shut down a couple of refineries. We're just trying to maintain. As price goes up, we raise our prices. When the cost to us goes down, we lower them."

Maurer said that the Cape Girardeau market reacts quickly, meaning there is more volatility as far as quick movements.

"But we consistently stay below the St. Louis market," Maurer said.

Drivers' views

Drivers had varying degrees of sympathy for fuel providers.

"I don't see a real reason for the price to keep going up," said Fred Schonfeld, who was gassing up at Huck's Friday before heading to Bennett Springs, Mo. "They keep talking about the blackout and broken pipelines. But tell me this: How come the prices can shoot up overnight but never come down?"

Nick Unnerstall is a Southeast Missouri State University student who lives in Gerald, Mo. He was buying gas Friday at Rhodes 101 on North Sprigg Street before heading home for the long weekend.

"It's not that bad," he said. "It's cheaper here than at home. But it does seem like it's been high forever."

Nathan Brown of Jackson said he doesn't see any reason to complain.

"I just know I have to have it, so I don't think about it much," he said. "It's going to be high."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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