GAS PRICES IN THE NEWS

Let's face it! Gas prices have fluctuated wildly over the last year. Budgeting for businesses, municipalities, families and individuals has been affected dramatically. Business plans have not anticipated the current $1 per gallon increase in gas prices from July 2007 to now. Last year in July regular unleaded gas was $3.079; today's price, $4.102. When you look at diesel prices, increases are even more dramatic. The current price is $4.926; last year at this time, $3.051. These prices are for Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Nationally, the prices vary little from Pittsfield, though they are lower. The national average for regular unleaded gas currently is $4.073; last year, $2.998 per gallon. Diesel nationally is $4.791 per gallon; last year, $2.895. Prices cited here are gathered on a regular basis by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the Oil Price Information Service in AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. AAA provides this report daily to the media and for public use. AAA also provides daily gas prices for Massachusetts metropolitan regions.

These tools are helpful to communities trying to gauge the impact of prices and to plan accordingly. One impact has been increased pressure on small businesses such as your local gas stations. A recent Business Week article, When Gas Stations Run Out of Gas, explores this problem in detail. For example the article notes the effect of credit card sales on stations. Margins are low and credit card charges amount to 5 cents a gallon to the owner. Last year 3184 stations closed. This year, on June 12, Exxon/Mobil announced that it is getting out of the retail gasoline business, that they will be selling their 2225 United States filling stations and convenience stores.

Trucking represents the chief engine of goods distribution in the United States. High diesel prices are showing their effects. Independent truckers (small businesses) are feeling the crunch as well as large fleet owners. Prices of crude, now at $137 a barrel affect the larger petroleum based economy. Everything from plastic bottles to polyester, lipstick to asphalt share petroleum bases. And, of course, energy costs, too, have increased and continue to increase.

Through its daily reports AAA is helping us keep our fingers on the ever shifting pulse of gas prices. It has also developed another tool, AAA Gas Price Finder. With this tool, you can find the cheapest gas prices in your community. Just put your zip code in and check radius of 3, 5, or 10 miles and AAA lists gas stations and provides a map locating the gas stations, with up-to-the- minute prices. Easy access to the AAA tools, the fuel price reports and Gas Price Finder have been provided In The Berkshires section of the About Business blog.

As library patrons at the Berkshire Athenaeum encounter these problems, there are frequent questions about cars, gas mileage, and prices. As patrons try to fathom what's going on, there are some library sources they can use. For example, there is a major reference book, Energy For the 21s Century : a Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources by Roy L Nersesian. This puts the current situation in context with detailed discussions, as an example, of the 1973 oil and gas crisis. Other resources are the annual EPA Fuel Economy Guide. ( EPA does the mileage breakdowns, posted on new and used cars.) Other resources available in most libraries are the N.A.D.A. price rating books for new and used cars. It is a mark of the times that these resources are requested throughout the library day.

Gas prices are likely to continue to go up or at the least maintain the $4 rate. By using some of the tools discussed here, you'll be able to keep informed and up-to-date, and plan accordingly.