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Road trip on eve of Hurricane Ike shows how crazy gas prices can get Date published: 9/18/2008 By Rob Hedelt I'VE SEEN gas prices But not like last Friday evening, when I was on my way to have dinner with a relative in Farmville. Going the back way through Gordonsville As I pulled out of Fredericksburg, the signs in front of the gas stations that usually have the lowest prices hereabouts still had regular going for something like $3.45 gallon. By the time I got to Gordonsville, some of the stations had prices "Wow, gas is more expensive out here," I remarked, totally oblivious to the effect that Hurricane Ike was to have. But I knew something was up when I got to Fork Union and saw people changing the gas signs By the time we hit Farmville, a station on one main thoroughfare had a price higher than that. I didn't jot it down, but if memory serves, it was something like $3.76. Even though we'd been listening to a news channel, where discussion was all about when Ike would hit and where, I found myself again wondering why gas would be so expensive in this little corner of the world. By the time we left, the price of gas at the aforementioned station had broken $3.80. And along the way home, prices had gone up once again. By that time--mind you, still before Ike had come ashore--there were reports of gasoline shortages in some southern states and prices topping $5 a gallon. With all this in mind, Imagine my relief to find it could still be had for less than $3.70 in several spots, but still more than 20 cents higher than it had been a scant few hours before. I'm no business or commodities expert. But I am typical of the American consumer.
The old adage of "supply & demand" HELPS explain the phenomenon you observed. Greed explains the rest of it. As a capitalist, I support the right of a businessman to set the prices on items he sells. I also reserve the right to not do business with an establishment that I feel has taken advantage of me. Many retailers did not know whe they were going to get their next shipment. Most took that opportunity to increase their price, some took it to the extreme. Let 'em know with your wallet.
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