Salem-News.com Gas Prices articles Page 15

SPECIAL SERIES: Record High Gas Prices Taking Toll on Salem-Keizer Residents, Businesses

With the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas at a record high $2.82 in the Salem-area, automotive repair shops are seeing a slump in business.

(SALEM) - With the average price for a gallon of gas in Salem and Keizer nearing, or in some cases passing three dollars a gallon, many auto repair shops in the area say they are surprised that business is as slow as it is.

Wes at Today`s Automotive Services attributes the record high gas prices to a 20 percent drop in business.

SPECIAL SERIES: Record High Gas Prices Taking It`s Toll on Salem-Keizer Residents, Business

With gas prices expected to go over three dollars a gallon before this summer, many families are temporarily exchanging their possessions for gas money, and some gas station owners say they want out of the business altogether.

(SALEM) - With gas prices in the Salem-area nearing three dollars a gallon, pawn shops in Salem and Keizer are seeing more and more business from people seeking a little extra cash to buy a tank of gas.

Pawn shop owners say business is increasing everyday, and most of the business is coming from families struggling to find $5, $10, $20, or $25 of extra cash to buy gas for their vehicles.

Global Fears Drive Crude Oil, Gasoline Prices Upward

Energy speculators are driving prices up because of fears of military action against Iran, which could disrupt flow of oil, so far it has caused the average price in Salem to rise by 12-cents per gallon in one week, and 10-cents statewide.

(SALEM) - Concerns about the nuclear standoff with Iran and violence in Nigeria that could hurt oil production drove crude oil prices to more than $69 a barrel Tuesday, says AAA`s Elliot Eki. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Energy released its seasonal outlook, projecting that regular gasoline will average $2.62 per gallon, barring any unexpected supply disruptions. Yet, the national average price already is up to $2.69, up 33-cents in the past month and 41-cents higher than one year ago.

In the past week, Oregon's statewide average price rose by 10-cents to $2.61 for regular gasoline; in the Salem metropolitan area, as well as Eugene-Springfield, the average prices went up by 12 cents per gallon in the same time period.

Gasoline Prices Continue Upward Surge

(SALEM) - Gasoline prices are still rising, and the national average now stands at more than $2.50 for a gallon of regular. That's an increase of more than 14-cents in the past week.

Salem`s average price rings in at $2.34 a gallon. That`s almost a quarter higher than the price last year at this time, when a gallon of regular was selling for $2.11.

Of the four measured metropolitan areas, Medford-Ashland saw the biggest increase—almost 15 cents per gallon—and the average price there now exceeds $2.63.

Oregon Average Gasoline Price Still Falling

National Average Price Nudges Upward

(Salem) - The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the Portland metropolitan area fell more the 4-cents in the past week, dropping below Salem`s average price, and is within pennies of the price paid one year ago. Across the river, the Vancouver average price declined by more than 7-cents a gallon to $2.06. The Oregon statewide average went down 3-cents a gallon, but the national average price crept upward by less than half a cent.