Fuel supplies are adequate, says American Petroleum Institute:
Despite gas price hikes in the Midwest, ASU students said Wednesday they are unconcerned that Arizona gas stations will follow suit.
Even though prices in Arizona have kept steady, in parts of the Midwest prices shot up after the terrorist attacks Tuesday. There were reports that in southern Illinois and Kansas gas prices were as high a $5 a gallon, but by Wednesday morning prices had returned to previous levels.
According to the Arizona chapter of the American Automobile Association, $1.485 was the average price for unleaded gas in Arizona on Wednesday. In the Phoenix area unleaded gas cost an average of $1.427.
Some ASU students said they never worried about the prices increasing.
Marisa Johnson, an interdisciplinary studies senior, drives a Pontiac Grand Am and filled up her tank for $1.48 a gallon of unleaded fuel.
“I wasn’t really afraid (of prices going up). I was listening to the news and some people are trying to take advantage of the situation, and I don’t think the people of Tempe will stand for it,” she said.
Other students like Amy Liebman, a broadcasting junior who drives a Honda Passport, were not sure what to expect at local gas stations.
“I was at my friend’s house last night, and he hurried to fill up his tank at 1 a.m. I was almost on empty and was scared that the prices really would go up. I heard on the news that several states raised their prices, but they didn’t mention Arizona. I am excited that they didn’t go up,” she said at the Mobil gas station on Rural Road and University Drive where unleaded gas was $1.37 a gallon and premium was $1.47 a gallon.
The American Petroleum Institute released a statement Tuesday saying that the fuel supplies for the nation, including Tempe, are adequate despite of the attacks on in New York and Washington D.C.
On behalf of the oil industry, the Petroleum Institute said, “America’s petroleum industry is working hard to ensure that all Americans have the fuel needed during this difficult time.”
Managers of local gas stations said that prices are not expected to increase.
Vic Markarian, manager of Chevron Food Market, 808 E. Baseline Road, said he is confident that the prices will remain steady and gas will continue to flow.
“If nothing happens to the price of gas by Thursday, we will be stable. I really doubt anything will happen that will raise prices or stop supply, “ he said.
Managers of the Texaco at Price Road and Baseline Road and the McClintock Drive Exxon said that their prices have not risen either.
Exxon manager Bob Kruse said that while prices and supply are stable now, he is not completely sure what will happen in the future.
“I got a fax from Exxon, and it says they don’t know what they are going to do. If we start bombing overseas there will definitely be a cost increase of gas. I know that 65 percent of the world’s gasoline is used by the United States, but only 10 percent comes from here,” he said.
All three managers said it is not possible for any of their companies to commit gouging by increasing prices for personal gain.
“If a company has a brand name, they cannot raise the prices themselves,” Markarian said.
The Texaco on Price Road and Baseline Road carries Texaco gas and has a Texaco sign but is still privately run, said manger Linda Ramsey. However, she assures that their prices will remain the same.
“Even though we are privately run, we would never dream of raising prices for personal gain,” she said.
AAA officials also said they had no confirmation of extreme gasoline prices and believe reports of such prices to be isolated incidents that will be corrected.
Reach Sandy Almendarez at salmend@imap2.asu.edu.
