SEZ IT ALL: Our reports on gas prices in various locations
continue unabated but this one, from Ted McKinney of West Fargo,
N.D., this past Tuesday, takes the cake:

“My wife Shirley and I just went on a vacation driving through
the following States: ND, SD, IA, MO, IL, TN, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC,
NC, VA, MD, DL, WV, PA, OH, IN, WI, MN to visit friends and
relatives. Bradford’s gas price was 14 cents higher than any place
where we got gas.

“Here in North Dakota it is ,1.42 a gallon right now. I think
the people of McKean County should complain to every government
official from the mayors to the President about reducing the price
of gas in your area. It is not right that you have to have such
high prices when other areas do not.”

And also:

From Dec. 5, Mary Ann Hannon, Grand Junction, Colo., writes: “At
last, gas is ,1.59.9 for #85. Used a Safeway card yesterday in
which I got 70 cents off a gallon, and I paid ,3.79 for 4.80
gallons of gas. It is fun getting gas – for how long is a very good
question!”

Mary McNair of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., writes, “Paid ,1.51 for
gas today in Virginia Beach. Can’t remember the last time it was
that low.”

This one goes back to the end of November but still is quite
relevant: Mike Sheehan of Tulsa, Okla., “Gas is ,1.539 in Tulsa.”
Adding insult to injury, Mike continues, “Today’s high temp should
be 67 degrees with bright sunshine.”

And this end-of-November observation from Gary Miller of
Bradford: “Here is a kicker: Pretty bad when Olean is paying the
same, in some places a penny less than Bradford, for gas. Eldred
and Smethport gas is ,2.09, the junction, ,1.99. What is wrong with
this picture?”

Several regional newspapers have recently looked into their gas
prices, and we hope to pass along a full report when we have a bit
more time. A quick look at the articles seems to reinforce our
belief that competition is the main factor.