Consumers flocked to the pumps on Friday as prices crept toward and beyond $4. With the announcement that Hurricane Ike has interrupted gas supply to the state, motorists filled up their tanks, wary of what increases another day might bring.
Gov. Mike Beebe on Friday declared a state of emergency because of hurricane-related gasoline supply interruptions.
According to a statement from the governor's office, some pipelines that route gasoline to fuel wholesalers and gas stations in Arkansas have been shut down until Ike is no longer a threat to the Gulf Coast. As a result, some temporary increases in gas prices were expected during the next few days.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's office reported both rumors and accurate accounts of gas price increases flooded his office on Friday.
Bob Bell of Bell Brothers 286 gas station said, "Our wholesale price today is well over four dollars. People are buying it today less than it would cost us. I'm at $3.999. If I buy some tomorrow, I'll have to add to (the price)."
He said he could not predict how much gas might go up.
"Wholesale prices increased twice yesterday," he said. "We don't know until we get it how much it will be."
Price increases could be found around Conway throughout the day.
Log Cabin reporters noted regular unleaded gas at Exxon was sold for $3.54 around 9:50 a.m. Friday and had increased to $3.89 by about 4 p.m. At Dusty's Citco, gas went for $3.79 in the morning and had risen to $3.95 in the afternoon.
Gasbuddy.com reported Thursday at Murphy Oil on Harkrider Street, gas was $3.59. About 4 p.m. Friday, it was $3.89. The same site reported at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Mapco on Dave Ward Drive had gas for $3.59. At 4 p.m., the price was $3.76.
Sinclair on Harkrider Street was selling gas for $4.29. At Bear's Den Exxon at Dave Ward Drive and Salem, the price of regular unleaded was $4.19.
The most common price found was $3.95, at Kroger on Oak Street, Shell at Oak Street and Interstate 40, Lone's BP on Harkrider Street, and at least two Satterfield stations, at Dave Ward Drive and Harkrider Street.
Consumers waiting in line for gas at Kroger were quick to share their thoughts on the situation.
"It's just out of sight, outrageous, uncalled for," said Phyllis Rose of Conway. She said when she heard her mother in Searcy had to wait 25 minutes for gas, she decided to fill up her vehicle immediately.
Asked if she was concerned the price of gas would go up again, she said, "Definitely."
Chris Eakens of Conway and his wife were among those at the pump. Eakens said, "For people like us on fixed income, it's hard. We're barely making it."
He said they have a 2-year-old, a 5-year-old and his two sons from a previous marriage, whom he picks up every other weekend at Benton.
"This gas is killing us," he said. "All I had was $15 to make it to next Thursday when my wife gets paid."
A woman who asked to be identified only by her first name, Mary, said, "This is ridiculous. This is price gouging. Nothing's happened yet.
"Of course, I have a gas hog that I'm stuck with. What am I gonna do?" she added, gesturing to her large sport utility vehicle.
Jim Caudle of Conway said, "The price of oil is down to two-thirds of what it was I don't know what's going on with gas prices, but it's not oil prices."
McDaniel has asked Arkansans to send his office documentation of price gouging if they see it in their hometown. The office has received numerous calls and e-mails from citizens who are concerned about a sudden hike in the price of gas at the pump.
McDaniel has encouraged citizens to use their cell phone cameras and document evidence of what they believe to be price gouging and e-mail it to gas@arkansasag.gov, text a picture to 501-539-0969, or they can call 800-482-8982.
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
