Spring Break
Statewide gas prices continue to rise
Local consumers, managers receive brunt of steadily increasing prices
Aubra Whitten
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: News
Higher gas prices mean people may have to adjust their budgets, Campbell said.
"It's a matter of where people spend their money," he said. "Obviously if people spend more on gas, they have less to spend elsewhere."
If prices continue to increase, Campbell said manufacturing would be affected because of the higher cost of transportation, which would in turn lead to increasing prices in retail goods.
While some have suggested drilling in places like Alaska and Florida to increase domestic oil supply, Campbell said problems would stem from those plans.
"There's a whole set of environmental problems that come with increasing the supply as opposed to decreasing the demand," he said.
Blair said gas prices dropped slightly Monday because OPEC is acting like they may increase their production.
Employees from several Starkville gas stations said the high gas prices are hurting everyone.
Lubertha Brown, manager of Express Shop 37 at 500 Hwy. 12 West, said high gas prices have affected her because she makes a long drive every day from work to home.
"I drive about 50 miles round-trip a day. It hurts me, too," she said.
Gasoline is a product that consumers must purchase no matter what its price is, Brown said.
"There's nothing people can do about it," she said. "We've got to put gas in the cars."
Brown said some of her customers have complained about the rising prices.
"Everyone asks me when the [price increases] are going to stop," she said.
Brown is asked by the gas station's petroleum supplier to survey other prices in town. The company, not individual gas stations, dictate the price per gallon of gasoline accordingly.
Andrew Bailey, assistant manager of Strange Brew Coffeehouse said the coffee house's gas station operates in a similar fashion. He said he usually checks other gas stations' prices on his way to work.
Bailey said Strange Brew potentially makes more profit from the sales of its coffee than it does from its gasoline sales.
"It's a matter of where people spend their money," he said. "Obviously if people spend more on gas, they have less to spend elsewhere."
If prices continue to increase, Campbell said manufacturing would be affected because of the higher cost of transportation, which would in turn lead to increasing prices in retail goods.
While some have suggested drilling in places like Alaska and Florida to increase domestic oil supply, Campbell said problems would stem from those plans.
"There's a whole set of environmental problems that come with increasing the supply as opposed to decreasing the demand," he said.
Blair said gas prices dropped slightly Monday because OPEC is acting like they may increase their production.
Employees from several Starkville gas stations said the high gas prices are hurting everyone.
Lubertha Brown, manager of Express Shop 37 at 500 Hwy. 12 West, said high gas prices have affected her because she makes a long drive every day from work to home.
"I drive about 50 miles round-trip a day. It hurts me, too," she said.
Gasoline is a product that consumers must purchase no matter what its price is, Brown said.
"There's nothing people can do about it," she said. "We've got to put gas in the cars."
Brown said some of her customers have complained about the rising prices.
"Everyone asks me when the [price increases] are going to stop," she said.
Brown is asked by the gas station's petroleum supplier to survey other prices in town. The company, not individual gas stations, dictate the price per gallon of gasoline accordingly.
Andrew Bailey, assistant manager of Strange Brew Coffeehouse said the coffee house's gas station operates in a similar fashion. He said he usually checks other gas stations' prices on his way to work.
Bailey said Strange Brew potentially makes more profit from the sales of its coffee than it does from its gasoline sales.
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