Given the volatility of our current market, one wonders how low local gas prices will go before bottoming out. In August we peaked at roughly $4.19 for regular unleaded. Mel and I filled up last night in Ellijay (about an hour north of metro Atlanta) for $1.89.
Say what? Yea, that’s a $2.30 drop in less than 3 months. A small bit of comfort at the pump when the rest of our economy is circling the drain but I’ll take it.
ETA (12/8/08): Regular unleaded is now $1.59
Ten days ago I was worried I might not be able to find enough gas to keep my wife and I going. Today, not only do we have plenty of gas but the cost per gallon is almost 65 cents less. Crude Oil barrel prices are somewhere in the sub $90 range (and falling) so our local station prices are averaging $3.55 or so per gallon on regular unleaded. That’s compared to an average of $4.19 10 days ago.
I’m guessing if the world market keeps sinking like it has in the last week, we might see gas prices dip below the $3.00 mark for regular unleaded.
In other news, my best friend David and his lovely wife Tricia flew into Atlanta Sunday night. David was in Atlanta for business on Monday and Tuesday but had a chance to crash at our loft in Castleberry Hill Tuesday night before heading out for some vacation time in Savannah, GA (1 year wedding anniversery!). The last time we saw each other in person was during his wedding so it was nice having the opportunity to catch up.
Yea almost. Quarter tank left and I can’t find a gas station here in the metro Atlanta area that has stock. Apparently gas is flowing into the city but everybody is trying to keep topped-off so any stock that makes it to a station is gone within a couple hours. I estimate I’ve got another 2 days of gas left for my commute and then I’m in trouble.
Ironically, I’ve been telling myself all summer not to let my tank get below half during hurricane season because anytime the Gulf gets hit, Atlanta goes bonkers and people panic causing even more trouble with gas supplies. But Mel and I spent the weekend in Ellijay so I was going to fill back up when I hit town but got caught behind the weekend rush. Now I’m screwed if I can’t catch a gas station between today and Friday.
This is why it pays to own a house and property kids. I’m not some natural disaster noob but living in a loft downtown doesn’t give me many options when it comes to stockpiling critical emergency supplies … like a couple 5 gallon jerry-cans worth of gas.
Should be a fun couple of days.
Update: After driving around Cobb county for 30 minutes yesterday evening I finally found a Shell Station that had regular unleaded. 20 mins later and I had a full tank. I’m estimating 1 in 10 stations are sold out daily only 1 in 10 stations have gas on a daily basis. We haven’t reached panic levels yet but you can tell people are starting to get edgy.