North state gas costs still rising: Prices higher in eight of nine cities checked

By Mark Glover Bee Staff Writer (Published April 5, 2000)

Gas prices in Northern California cities have continued to climb despite indications that fuel costs are now inching downward statewide, AAA of Northern California reported Tuesday.

A AAA survey of nine Northern California cities on Tuesday found prices in eight higher now than in a survey three weeks ago.

In Sacramento, the latest survey showed the average price of regular unleaded gasoline at $1.83 per gallon, up 6 cents from the previous survey. That was the sharpest increase among the nine Northern California cities, although the per-gallon cost was well below that in San Francisco ($1.94 a gallon).

Only Concord had a decrease in per-gallon price compared with the previous AAA survey -- $1.80 a gallon, a penny less than three weeks ago.

The average retail price of regular unleaded gasoline in California peaked about two weeks ago at $1.79 -- an all-time high -- and has since fallen by 2 cents a gallon to $1.77, according to weekly surveys of 38 California stations by the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Better refinery production and lower oil prices are bringing penny-by-penny relief at the gas pumps," said Paul Moreno, spokesman for AAA of Northern California. "Once again, we are seeing gas prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather."

Analysts noted that California gas prices are prone to volatility, because high oil prices earlier this year left domestic oil and gasoline stocks low as refineries curtailed crude purchases and gasoline production.

California Gasoline Prices Still Going Up!

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 05, 2000

Answers

Ain't:

This appears to be a west coast thing. In the mid-west [where life is the best], prices had dropped about 20 cents/gal when I left. I think that they leveled there for the time. Will find out when I return.

Best wishes,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

Gas in mid-michigan down to $1.33 gallon from a high of $1.69 four weeks ago .

-- birddog (dog40856@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

Z1X4Y7 said:

"This appears to be a west coast thing."

[snip] Friday, March 31, 2000

Fuel Prices Drive Truckers Away/Unable to profit, many are selling out or parking their rigs Link

[snip]

We expect a big percentage of the industry is a month or two away from bankruptcy.''

[snip] And when the trucks stop, shipping officials say, the nation could well be paralyzed.

[snip]

In California alone, 100 percent of what gets to a retail outlet gets there by truck; 98 percent of the state's agricultural goods also travel by truck.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 05, 2000.

Ooooops! Heres the link to the article I "[snip(ed)]" from

Fuel Prices Drive Truckers Away

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 05, 2000.

Ainn't:

May be true in many places; but here we raise most of our own food. Personally, we have enough to last till November. We would lack broc. from CA; but then we could take that [whew; the George Bush syndrome]. You shouldn't over-emphasize the importance of CA. ag. In the mid-west , we have supplies. This might be the beginning of a giant shift in the food supply industy.

Best wishes,,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

Ain't:

We are seeing the following here. The big chain super stores are beginning to stock local produce; in large quantities. Let me tell you the quality is much better. Locally, we are seeing a shift to seasonalble availability. We buy and we can. I see this as the future; except for special occasions.

Best wishes,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

Over half of the fruits, nuts, & vegetables consumed in the states are grown in California's central valley.

Steinbeck's Salinas Valley is known as the 'salad bowl of the nation', and used ot raise over 90% of the broccoli and cole crops. With the state of ag growth in Mexico, those figures may have changed a bit recently. The fact that the region corresponds topographically & climatically with the great wine regions of France has led to dramatic increases in the cultivation of vineyards.

The state of California also produces the greatest amount of dairy products in the nation.

-- flora (***@__._), April 05, 2000.

Flora:

Over half of the fruits, nuts, & vegetables consumed in the states are grown in California's central valley

Flora, just returned home. Came through California on the way. You are correct. Rewrite Over half of the fruits, nuts, & vegetables in the states are in California

Still seems to be true, if SF is any guide. Over the next decade, you are looking at a change. One of the things we were talking about at the meetings that I just attended. Not going to be enough water to continue that.

Best wishes,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

Z,

I figured the fruits, nuts & vegetables would be too tempting to pass up.

Yeah, I know about the water issues. We've got salt water intrusion problems, and aquifers so full of nitrates in the 'salad bowl' that some communities can't even drink the water out of their taps right now.

Water is the defining issue for the state.

How feasible do you think desal is for us?

-- flora (***@__._), April 05, 2000.