As Gas Prices Rise, so Does Angst: Cleveland County Merchant Shuts Off Pumps in Protest

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr., The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Apr. 23–Eventually, Mike Rhodes got tired of waking up every morning and bumping up gas prices at The Rockett Express.

Last Monday, he turned off the pumps in protest.

“We feel personally like the petroleum industry is gouging the nation,” he said. “We just felt that we’d shut (the pumps) down and be the voice of Cleveland County.”

Prices in the Charlotte area averaged $2.888 a gallon for regular on Saturday, up 2 cents from Friday. That reflected national prices, which were 12 cents shy of $3 for regular gas. The increases made Rhodes’ gas station less profitable, and that made the decision to hit the off switch easier.

He and his uncle opened the pumps seven months ago. It’s a service to customers that never was a huge moneymaker, Rhodes said, but it drew people into their convenience store.

The Rockett Express’ closest competition is part of a chain, and Rhodes said he tries to match its prices. But even then, “for two weeks we ended up selling gasoline at about 6 cents a gallon under cost.”

The pumps at the station between Shelby and Fallston will stay off until Rhodes sees a drop in gas prices.

They may have a long wait.

Prices have been rising: The national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was at $2.884 Saturday. That’s almost 38 cents higher than a month ago and 67 cents higher than this time last year , according to AAA Carolinas, a not-for-profit automobile lobby group and service organization.

Crude oil prices broke through $75 a barrel Friday amid concerns about the standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, rebel disruptions of oil production in Nigeria and tight U.S. gasoline supplies.

Stations in the Carolinas get 90 percent of their gasoline from the Gulf Coast, where refineries hit by hurricanes last year are still below capacity, said AAA spokesman Tom Crosby.

“When they see high prices coming, they raise the prices at the station for the fuel that’s in the ground,” said Crosby. In the coming week “we can expect prices to increase a few cents.”

The only silver lining is an expected increase in Gulf Coast production in the next few months. At best, Crosby said, those increases will keep prices down only slightly.

“I think we’re going to flirt with $3 a gallon without a doubt,” he said. “It’s going to be like a roller coaster.”

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