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March 31, 2006

UP, UP AND AWAY

Gas prices in Pahrump out of step with Nevada

By GINA B. GOOD
PVT

GINA B. GOOD / PVT
On Monday, Terrible's County Store and Smith's gasoline prices were among the lowest along Highway 160 in the business district at 2.43 per gallon. However, on Thursday most gas stations were selling regular unleaded for $2.47 9/10. As usual, a different excuse for the spike has been cited.

March gas price averages

(Listed by location, price, change from Feburary prices. Compiled by AAA Nevada.)

• Nationally: $2.36, +7 cents;

• Nevada: $2.45, -4 cents;

• Las Vegas: $2.41; -2 cents;

• North Las Vegas: $2.40; -4 cents;

• Henderson: $2.43; -3 cents;

• Carson City: $2.46; -3 cents;

• Sparks: $2.47, -5 cents;

• Elko: $2.34; -6 cents.

Elsewhere in the western U.S.:

• Los Angeles: $2.61; +3 cents;

• Phoenix: $2.32; -7 cents;

• Salt Lake City: $2.24; -1 cent;

• San Francisco: $2.56; unchanged;

• Shoshone, Ca.: $3.33; change unknown;

• St. George, Ut.: $2.35; -2 cents.

If you plan to drive over the state line to Shoshone to buy a California lottery ticket or watch the Baker to Vegas runners this weekend, be sure you have enough gas for a round trip - unless you're willing to pay $3.33 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

According to an AAA Nevada report issued two weeks ago, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Las Vegas is $2.41, indicating a two-cent decrease from last month. In Reno, drivers benefited from a six-cent decrease since February.

"The drop in statewide prices seems to buck the trend we're seeing across the country," said AAA Nevada spokesperson Michael Geesler. "Every spring, Americans have an increased demand for gasoline. That coupled with new requirements by the government for gasoline formulation has pushed prices up at the pump nationally."

Pahrump seems more in step with the rest of the nation, as this week gas prices reached $2.47 at most stations along Highway 160 in the center of town. Prices at most stations have risen twice this week from Monday through Thursday.

According to the report, demand for gasoline is running about one percent ahead of last year, yet there is a major difference from 2005 - the price of crude oil. Last year at this time, crude oil was trading at $55 per barrel. It is currently selling for around $64 per barrel. That increase in price contributes to consumers paying anywhere from 10 to 20 cents more for retail gasoline this year.

"Right now, there is a strong supply in the market according to the Energy Information Administration," said Geeser. "But once the weather warms across the country, demand is expected to cut into that supply and that could send prices up slightly."

Duh-uh! No crystal ball was needed for that prediction. Warm weather means more motorcycle day trippers riding through the valley, more weekend family outings and of course, more escapes into the desert with the back of dad's pickup loaded with dirt bikes. And let us not forget more monster trucks hauling trailers filled with the family's quads.

The nationwide average price for regular unleaded regular is $2.36 per gallon, up seven cents from six weeks ago. The most expensive gas in the United States is $2.96 in Wailuku, Hawaii. Within the continental U.S., the most expensive unleaded gasoline is found in Blythe, Calif., where the price is $2.84 and the least expensive is $2.14 in the state of New Jersey.

The least expensive gas in Nevada, on average, is in Elko, with an average price of $2.34 a gallon. Reno has the priciest gas at $2.49 - although Pahrump is edging ever closer to that price. The most interesting part of that equation is that Reno's gas prices have declined six cents in the last six weeks to that price, while the cost in Pahrump has increased.

Overall, there seems little rhyme or reason to gasoline pricing - and the best advice from AAA Nevada is to aggressively shop around for the lowest cost.