Q When I filled up with gas to go on vacation recently, the cost of gas in Emporia was $3.89 a gallon. The cost of gas in Branson, Mo., on that same day was $3.43. Is this price-gouging?
A While Kansas law prohibits unjustified increases in gasoline prices during disasters, “regular increases in the price of gas that are similar to other stations in the area do not qualify as price-gouging,” according to a fact sheet from the Department of Agriculture’s Weights and Measures division. The division oversees fuel-related operations.
Gasoline prices are volatile nationally and from region to region. Today in Emporia, unleaded regular can be found for $3.35.9 a gallon, down more than 50 cents from when this question was submitted.
A portion of the difference in pricing may be attributed to the gasoline taxes charged by the states.
The gas tax in Missouri is 17 cents per gallon, plus a 0.6-cent “gasoline other taxes” added, for a total of 17.6 cents in taxes added by Missouri.
In Kansas, the gas tax is 24 cents per gallon, plus a 1-cent-per-gallon environmental fee, for a total of 25 cents in Kansas taxes per gallon of gas.
The federal government collects an additional 18.4 cents per gallon in taxes, separate from the taxes charged by the individual states.
The statistics on taxes were provided through the American Petroleum Institute’s Web site.
The KDA fact sheet stated that people who believe they have seen or experienced price gouging in Kansas need to notify the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer protection Division at (785) 296-3751 or (800) 432-2310 or online at www.ksag.org.
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Posted by jcwhit232 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That may explain the difference between the prices in Missouri compared to Kansas, but why is it that Topeka is so much cheaper than Emporia on gas? Two weeks ago the gas prices in Emporia were $3.85 a gallon and on that same day in Topeka it was $3.51. It seems to me that over 30 cents a gallon is a big difference for being less than 60 miles away, yet everyone keeps saying, "shop your local stores first". Maybe Emporia gas station owners should help give people a reason to shop local and lower their prices, they certainly can't be paying anymore for their gas than Topeka gas station owners pay for theirs.
Posted by Emporiafan (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So this also doesn't explain why gas is 20 cents different from one side of town to the next! I think that the gas stations on the NW side of town should be looked at for price-gouging! Makes you want to stand outside their stations with a big sign that says "Go to the other side of town gas is cheaper!"
Posted by kcfan (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The cost difference from town to town was explained to me like this:
Since gas per barrel fluctuates daily, the price at the pump is going to be dependent on how quickly the station refuels. In Topeka, where there is obviously more people, the barrels are used more quickly and the price is subject to increase or decrease more in line with daily barrel price. Although we use a lot of gas in Emporia, all stations combined probably do not use as much as any one station in Topeka does. It made sense to me when I got the information so I'm running with it. :)
Posted by momoftwo (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
KC - that explanation seems fitting when the price of oil is going down & gas should be going down. However, am I the only one who sees the local stations increasing their prices the same day or morning after the price of oil goes up? Do the tanks magically go empty the same day the price of oil goes up?:) I realize the station owners really don't clear much on a gallon of gas. And, I realize they are in the business to make money, but it would be nice if that cause & effect worked both ways!!
Posted by kcfan (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mom- I can definitely agree with you there.
I love how everyone in this town always brings up the West vs South side of town. Its a quick 15 minute drive from one side to the other. We have choices as consumers, if you don't like the price at one place go to another. Stop the segregation... white v black, rich v poor, ugly v pretty.
The real reason why some West side shops might be higher probably has more to do with corporate decisions over location. Although snagging up interstate travelers who don't want to try to get lost searching for the best price I'm sure also plays a major role.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's all about money
I asked a guy who was raisng the price while I was pumping gas ! Why can't they wait until they refuel and he said , I just got a call from the owner and he told me to raise them now!!
So if the price goes down they wait until they refuel , but if the price goes up , they raise them immediately !
It's all about the green !
Posted by ddarbro (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they call that the theory of Rockets and Feathers. When oil prices goes up the gas rockets up. When the price of oil goes down the gas prices float down slowly.
Posted by Emporiafan (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't believe I was trying to segregate the town...just want to know why it's such a big difference with only a few miles apart....and yes I know my consumer rights which is why I will drive across town to get cheaper gas.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kcfan: THANK YOU for your comment, "Stop the segregation... white v black, rich v poor, ugly v pretty". I am white, poor, and ugly. I need a break from all the abuse. :)
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Paul Harvey was heard the other day asking the question about why gas prices haven't declined in pace with the drop in oil prices. He reported that market specialists claim wholesale suppliers and retail stations had to lower profit margains to be able to compete when gas prices peaked at and above $4/gallon. He reported that some stations broke even or even sold at a loss to retain their customers who were shopping around for the cheapest place to buy gas. He went on to say that now that oil prices have went down, gas prices remain high at the pump so the suppliers and retailers can recoop those losses when they were supposedly losing money. Mr. Harvey's response at the end of the report led me to believe that he didn't accept that as being truthful. If you believe anyone in the oil/gas business lost money in the last couple of years, you need to stick your head back down in the sand or rejoin the flock.
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