The current national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.45. I contacted one local retailer for comment concerning why their prices are 28 cents per gallon higher than the national average. First I was directed to a man named Doug who then refered me to a man by the name of Ryan (all he was willing to give) and was told, “No comment.”

Thier cost to consumers shouldn’t be more than $3.45 per gallon and falling to match the national trend. There are a lot of factors that go into pricing gasoline, and I understand that, but here we have a direct example of artifical price inflation based upon summer demand in this economy.

Without going into refinary pricing, delivery and volumn I can state without pause that not every single station in Summit County is guilty of price manipulation for no other reason than “they can.Æ I find this more disgusting than shocking as our economy teeters on the edge of another possible recession. Now, they don’t want to talk about this and even corporate media relations isn’t in the business of a reasonable explantion. I was told by (another first-name person) called Theresa that they are calculating having to buy the next fuel shipment. I then asked how often shipments are sent and was told after a pause … bi-monthly at the minimum.

Their whole argument is flawed and you, the residents of Summit County are paying into this price gouging … wondering when prices will fall while corporate is making larger profits vs. lower costs. Funny that prices rise immediately and now that oil is trading $29 lower per barrel we are still paying the prices associated with $108 level. How do you feel now? You are being fleeced.