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Grand Forks Drivers Top Off the Tanks

Posted on: Friday, 23 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

Sep. 23--A sharp increase in the price of gas loomed large in the minds of Grand Forks motorists Thursday as Hurricane Rita pushed closer to the petroleum-rich Texas and Louisiana coastlines.

The average gasoline price in Grand Forks Thursday was about $2.58 per gallon for regular unleaded, according to the AAA Web site, although most stations had hiked their prices to $2.75 by Thursday night, which was about equal to the national average.

Loren Dusterhoft's BP gas stations were among the few that held prices steady Thursday. It didn't take long for motorists to spot the marquee outside his stores still showing $2.55.9 per gallon for regular unleaded as late as Thursday night.

"I just went by about five minutes ago and there were cars sitting on the street waiting to get in," Dusterhoft said. "Now, everyone is expecting a big increase is on the way."

Dusterhoft said he'll more than likely follow other station owners today and raise his prices, too.

Hurricane Katrina already had put a major snag in the nation's crude and refining production. Rita could temporarily halt up to a fifth of the U.S. refining capacity as plants throughout southeast Texas close down, joining those in southern Louisiana put out of service on Aug. 29.

Dusterhoft said that most of the crude used to make gasoline for Grand Forks and other Midwest stations comes from the Gulf Coast, so market fluctuations caused by Hurricane Katrina, and potentially Rita, are stronger here.

A year ago, it cost a consumer in Grand Forks $28.15 to fill a 15 gallon tank. Thursday, it cost $38.71 to fill the same tank.

He said customers have been understanding for the most part and haven't been taking their ire out on his clerks.

"They've been pretty nice to us; they know they're really not the ones to blame," Dusterhoft said. "But it's a pretty tough business."

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Copyright (c) 2005, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

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