Prices In The Fast Lane—

Regular Gas Passes $4

Without Stopping

By Kendra Bobowick

With the numbers scrolling upward as we watch, gas prices in Fairfield County are currently higher than elsewhere in the state, according to AAA spokesman Jim MacPherson.

South Main Street Newtown Exxon business owner Nicholas Kopcik is weathering the price spike, and despite the bite in household budgets, he said that for the last couple of years, “Customers have not complained to us much.” Why are prices so high? First of all, “Everybody knows it’s not us, we’re passing along increases from the wholesale level,” Mr Kopcik said. “We’re going penny for penny. The large run-ups take away from our bottom line — we have to do what our competitors are doing.”

With the sounds of impact guns stuttering in the background, Dan Amaral’s repair bays are still open for business at Amaral Motor Inc at 40 Main Street, but motorists in need of fuel are out of luck for the moment. He temporarily closed the pumps a few weeks ago. Selling gas just is not profitable at the moment, he explained. “The price of gas is a big nut, and for what the [business owner] is making, is it worth it?” He is not shutting off the pumps for good, he said. Mr Amaral said that he will wait for the price to drop. “Even $3.50 would be good,” he said.

The last time prices spiked so severely was after Hurricane Katrina, Mr MacPherson said, but any number of factors could drive up the cost and cloud predictions for when numbers will drop.

Mr MacPherson said that the federal government had hoped prices would peak in mid-June, but that month’s prices are already at the pump. Has the price peaked early? Will June’s prices be higher — or neither? “Any number of factors could raise the price and negate predictions,” he said. What are we looking at for costs next month or throughout the summer? That answer also eludes him. “There is a worldwide demand for energy and it’s growing rapidly, and we’re dealing with tight supplies,” he said.

Mr Kopcik said simply, “We’re in uncharted territory…”

With a few of the price-driving variables in mind, Mr Amaral notes that if only the state and federal gas taxes would drop in coming weeks, “it might make it better for a summer road trip.”

The prices now rising above the $4 mark for regular gasoline may have many consumers looking twice at the pump, but as far as summer travel plans go, Ms MacPherson said, “People are still buying our products.” Travel tickets, maps, and more are still selling, but he wonders if people are going as far.

“Will we see a pick up in destinations closer to home — Cape Cod instead of Nova Scotia?” he asked. With an answer he said, “The season is far too young.” Mr Kopcik agreed that “prices always spike in the spring. He notes that he is “losing money at the pumps,” but is making money in the repair bays, however. Thinking about cars and drivers, he notices that people are more willing to make repairs to cars rather than skip extensive work and think about buying new. People do not want the car payments, he observed.

In fact, Mr Amaral, who is also relying on his shop and used and new car sales for income for the time being, said, “Car sales are not booming either.”

According to information found at fuelgaugereport.com, the national average for regular, mid-range, premium and diesel fuel per gallon as of Wednesday evening was $3.7, $3.9, $4.1, and $4.4 respectively. Prices in Connecticut as of the same time were $3.9, $4.3, $4.4, and $4.6 respectively. Newtown’s pumps are closely reflecting the state’s averages. The numbers are roughly 50 cents more than one month ago and almost $1 more than a year ago.

Can drivers do anything to save a few dollars? Yes. Mr Kopcik offers the following advice: Add a few pounds of air to the tires. And keep the air filters clean. “You’ll get more miles per gallon, he said.