Gas pumps busy despite prices

www.centredaily.com Posted on Sun, Jan. 26, 2003 By Adam Smeltz asmeltz@centredaily.com

CDT/NABIL K. MARK Ryan Coleman pumps gas at the Sheetz store at 101 Valley Vista Drive in Patton Township.

STATE COLLEGE - Going for a ride?

With gas prices nationwide having swelled about 32 percent in 12 months, driving to your destination has become an increasingly costly prospect.

Add Venezuela's weeks-long oil strike plus a possible war in Iraq, and the United States might encounter petroleum prices that creep higher still.

"I won't drive any more than I have to," said Dean Smith, 52, of Spring Mills, pumping gas Saturday at the Uni-Mart in Pleasant Gap.

"I'll just do the bare necessities," he said. "That's it."

A year ago, the average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline was about $1.14 in Pennsylvania, according to the Oil Price Information Service.

By Saturday, gas stations in and around State College were advertising rates about $1.46 per gallon, roughly two cents below the current statewide average.

"Since I live down in Lock Haven and work in State College, it drains the wallet a bit," said Charles Walizer, 24. He said he spends some $40 on gas each week.

"With my commute every day, it's a rather large concern," Walizer said.

At least part of the price increases, which in Pennsylvania include a 4.4-cent jump since December, are blamed on the Venezuela oil strike. The strike, in its 56th day, has stifled exports from the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.

"(Prices) could be worse," said Bill Beard, 46, of Pleasant Gap. "They're manageable right now."

Likewise, local service-station attendants said gas sales have been stable despite price spikes.

"Our business stays pretty consistent unless there's a big hike in price," said Mike Glantz, who works at the College Heights Exxon in State College. "It's basically the same this time of year as it has been."

Traffic at gas pumps down the road seems similarly strong.

"Since (Penn State) reopened" for classes this month, "we've increased sales," said Richard Trialonas, manager of Snappy's convenience store on North Atherton Street.

"It's been nice," he said. "We miss the kids when they're gone."

Jessica Doherty, 19, of Bellefonte, said "it'd take a lot" to calm her driving habits.

"If the price was above $1.60, I think it might slow me down," Doherty said.

Analysts have said a U.S.-led war in Iraq could push the per-gallon expense closer to that point.

Concerns intensified last week when defense officials said Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein might try to sabotage his country's oil fields if the United States invades. Iraq's oil production is about 3 percent of the worldwide petroleum output.

"I think everybody (worries)," said Dondi Smeltzer, 41, of Pleasant Gap. "Whenever the price goes up, you have a little less to spend."

Beard suggested a lasting solution to the price woes may be to limit dependency on oil overall.

"I think we as a country, in the long term, need to move away from use of gas," he said, "and toward other resources."

Adam Smeltz can be reached at 231-4631. The Associated Press contributed to this report.