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Bismarck gas prices rival state averages

Nov 13, 2006 - 11:33:02 CST

By CRYSTAL R. REID/Bismarck Tribune

Average regular unleaded fuel prices in Bismarck have officially dropped below Grand Forks and Fargo prices, apparently prompted by a small feud, officials say.

“There’s a couple of stores that started this competition, and it’ll continue,” said Mike Rud, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketer’s Association.

As of Monday morning, regular unleaded fuel prices were averaging $2.15 a gallon in Bismarck, or $2.185 a gallon in the metropolitan statistical area of Bismarck-Mandan, according to AAA fuel gauge reports.

Fargo was averaging at $2.191 gallon according to AAA, and Grand Forks was at $2.204 a gallon.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in North Dakota was at $2.266, according to AAA reports. The national price of gas was at $2.227 a gallon.

Although Rud couldn’t confirm which gas stations started the declines, AAA confirmed a significant drop in price on Nov. 7: The price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Bismarck dropped to $2.19 from 2.287, said Gene LaDoucer, spokesperson for AAA.

And despite national gas prices trending higher in the past few days, Bismarck’s prices continue to decline.

“This Bismarck price isn’t good overall for our marketers right now, this isn’t a good situation going into the holidays,” Rud said. “We’d like to definitely see a little more margin in gas right now.”

See the full story tomorrow in the Bismarck Tribune.

(Reach reporter Crystal Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@bismarcktribune.com)

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Comments

Ali J wrote on Nov 13, 2006 10:09 PM:

" I guess I would have to disagree with the generally conspiratorial tone of the other comments but it is nice to see that reporting can have an effect. Now this reporter needs to tackle why diesel prices are so high. "

Agreed wrote on Nov 13, 2006 7:33 PM:

" I agree with Anonymous. Doesn't anybody notice how gas stations jump up 10 cents at one time and then slowly lower back down at 2 to 3 cents a time? Are we stupid?? They raise it a large amount one time so that we are only angry and frustrated once. but when they lower it in small amounts 3 times, we are soooo happy each time. Open your eyes. They are toying with us. If they raise it 10 cents and lower it four, they are still making 6 cents more than they were originally. Why didn't they raise it 6 cents and be done? It is because they don't want to settle on a price with us being frustrated. They will always lower it before settling on a price. That way we are left feeling happy. They are clearly outsmarting most of us. "

Annoymous wrote on Nov 13, 2006 4:45 PM:

" To Central ND--Gas prices at $2.139 in Steele and that's "Awesome"? They should be down around $1.599 and that would be "Awesome". This was just another way of the oil companies getting prices higher. They raise them over three dollars a gallon and when the prices come back to $2.139 we think that's great. Well it's not!!!! They are trying to condition us to higher prices!!!! "

to strange wrote on Nov 13, 2006 2:58 PM:

" I agree with you. We have most likely been overcharged for many years while the station owners line their pockets. Now they want us to feel sorry for them when they finally bring the prices down? "

strange wrote on Nov 13, 2006 2:01 PM:

" "We’d like to definitely see a little more margin in gas right now." Is this the image the station owners want projected to the public? Seems like a strange thing for thier Exec to say. Makes the station owners look greedy. Just my $.02 "

wood-eye wrote on Nov 13, 2006 1:57 PM:

" Amazing!!! This is the first time that I moved to Bismarck in 1993 that the gas prices were lower than either Fargo or Grand Forks. Could Sam's Club Gas Station opening on November 15th have anything to do with this? Ahhh! Competition - it's the American way . . . . . And it works! "

central ND wrote on Nov 13, 2006 1:24 PM:

" Steele Price this am was $2.139 . Awesome!! "

Skottish wrote on Nov 13, 2006 12:54 PM:

" Hmm interesting Timing "

About time wrote on Nov 13, 2006 12:48 PM:

" Thank Tribune for prompting this "feud" I think had it not been for the article a few weeks ago about how much higher Bis-man prices were than Fargo and Grand Froks and the comments posted on the site this would have not have happened. "

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