Gas Prices: December 2008 Archives

Last week, the Hess station at 253 S. Queen St. charged $1.69 for a gallon of regular gasoline.

Meanwhile, the Hess station at 1129 W. Market St. charged $1.61.

Aren't all Hess stations the same?

Apparently not. Chris Stremmel, who works at the South Queen Street Hess station, explained that it is independently owned by his father. Since gas prices began their rapid descent last month, independently owned stations have had to charge more for a gallon of regular gasoline than their corporate-controlled counterparts.

You can read all about it in the 'Money & More' section of Tuesday's York Daily Record.

In the meantime, the Associated Press is reporting that the price of crude oil, gasoline and heating oil are on the rise.

Prices consumers are charged for the stuff they buy fell by a record 1 percent in October. Then this morning, the news comes out that prices in November fell by 1.7 percent, eclipsing the old record.

The statistic makes sense. Retailers like Bon-Ton and Boscov's and everyone else are going gangbusters with sales -- sales lower prices -- and promotions to get people to buy. It's basic supply and demand, when consumers aren't demanding like they used to.

But then why are some people worried this is a bad thing?

Well, it is. I don't miss the penny or two on the dollar that I'm charged as much as a retailer or manufacturer misses a penny or two on the dollar when they are selling thousands upon thousands of products.

Then people lose their jobs, and don't have any pennies left.