Did anybody watch the 10 o'clock newscast? Let me guess...they must have fanned the flames w/ media hype of gas price increases or shortages. I left home tonight to go shopping and to the gym, and bought gas ~9:20 - activity all 3 stations @ the intersection I stopped at appeared normal.

I just returned from driving down N. Lamar, and Holy Cow! There were lines 10 cars deep at some stations spilling into the streets. Damn, if it was a bar you'd think these folks were in line for last call before HH ends or something...

 

Whether its hype or not, there is speculation that station owners will take advantage of the situation and crank up gas prices. Additionally, if you read the thread Gas!Gas!Gas! in OT, you'll see that prices will probably go up, at the least, 10 cents per gallon later tonight.

Taking no chances, I filled both cars earlier today (I have NOT charged the grocery store and bought every gallon of bottled water... hell, I went to Walmart and didn't buy any food at all). I thought about it a little, and a full tank will never hurt me. An empty one, however, will. The gas stations at 3 pm were relatively busy, but there were no lines at the time.

 

I believe gas gouging is illegal, and can be reported to the Better Business bearou (however you spell it). There is no reason gas prices should rise, there has been no affect that I heard of on the trade of gas with us at this point.

Here's something I got off the i-club list:

"No, you don't have to pay the higher prices due to today's events. For those witnessing the price gouging due to the recent tragedy, call the Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Agency at 1-800-337-3928."

 

The prices were still the same as yesterday as I drove by the Chevron station on 620 this morning.

Kirk