Gasoline Dips Below $2 a Gallon

By Hurst Laviana, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

Nov. 12–For Wichita drivers, Friday proved to be a milestone as gasoline prices dropped below $2 a gallon for the first time in five months.

Motorists filling up at the Kwik Shop at 2809 E. Douglas said the $2-a-gallon mark was a significant line to cross.

“It helps people like me,” said Shay JoKeis, a student and single parent who was putting $6 worth of unleaded into her tank. “Getting my son back and forth is hard when the price of gas is high.”

Phillip McGee, who was filling up a loaner car after taking his car to the shop, said he usually fills his 14-gallon tank about once a week.

“I deliver pizza for a living, so it’ll save me money,” he said.

When was the last time McGee put $2 gas into his car?

“I don’t remember — that’s how bad it is,” he said.

Over the past month, the price of gasoline has dropped about 50 cents a gallon in Wichita, according to wichitagasprices.com. The web site said the last time gas sold for less than $2 a gallon was in mid-June. Prices peaked at just over $3 a gallon in early September, after Hurricane Katrina hurt the Gulf Coast oil industry.

Tammy Peterson, who was putting $21.50 into her Toyota Echo on Friday, said she was pleasantly surprised when she noticed that unleaded gas prices had dropped to $1.99 a gallon at most Wichita stations.

The Wichita State student said she hopes prices continue to drop.

“I was excited to know I could spend 20 bucks to fill my car, not 80,” she said.

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