Cheap South Florida fuel

Curious about just how much prices have dropped at the pump? Here are your city's lowest gas prices, taken from www.miamigasprices.com.

If you live in Boca Raton:

• Chevron at Yamato Road & Congress Avenue: $2.39 a gallon
• Chevron at North Federal Highway & Spanish River Road: $2.39 a gallon
• BP at North Federal Highway & Spanish River Road: $2.39 a gallon

If you live in Boynton Beach:

• Citgo at Military Trail & Woolbright Road: $2.24 a gallon
• Citgo at Hypoluxo Road & Lawrence Road: $2.26 a gallon
• Hess at Hypoluxo Road & Military Trail: $2.27 a gallon

If you live in Delray Beach:

• Gas One at West Atlantic Avenue: $2.29 a gallon
• Hess at Military Trail and West Atlantic Avenue: $2.31 a gallon

If you live in Deerfield Beach:

• Citgo at Powerline and Hillsboro Boulevards: $2.20 a gallon
• Shell at Hillsboro Boulevard & Fourth Street: $2.22 a gallon
• Marathon at Powerline & Green Road: $2.23 a gallon

If you live in Pompano Beach:

• COSTCO at 1800 W. Sample Road: $2.16 a gallon
• Sunoco at McNab & Cypress Road: $2.22 a gallon
• Citgo at Powerline & Sample Road: $2.25 a gallon

If you live in Fort Lauderdale:

• Shell at Sunrise Boulevard & Powerline Road: $2.14 a gallon
• RaceTrac at State Road 84, east of I-95: $2.18 a gallon
• Hess at Broward Boulevard & northwest 7th Avenue: $2.23 a gallon
• BP on Broward Boulevard: $2.25 a gallon

If you live in Hollywood:

• Hess at 1840 N. Federal Hwy: $2.26 a gallon
• 7-Eleven at 4112 S. Ocean Dr.: $2.27 a gallon
• Sunoco at 3325 Pembroke Road: $2.33 a gallon

If you live in Plantation:

• Mobil at 1862 N. Nob Hill Road: $2.15 a gallon
• Chevron at University & Peters: $2.27 a gallon

If you live in Coral Springs:

• Texaco at 8161 Wiles Road: $2.23 a gallon
• U-Gas at Wiles Road & University Drive: $2.24 a gallon
• Shell at Lyons & Sample Road: $2.27 a gallon

If you live in Davie:

• U-Gas at 4997 Volunteer Road: $2.18 a gallon
• Shell at 14810 Griffin Road: $2.19 a gallon

If you live in Miami:

• Valero at 87th Street & Sunset: $2.15 a gallon
• RaceTrac at 17021 NW 27th Ave.: $2.17 a gallon
• Mobil at 9497 NW 7th Ave.: $2.19 a gallon
• BP at 1402 Collins Ave.: $2.39 a gallon
• Citgo at 331 23rd St.: $2.49 a gallon

Save on gas, shop more?

Here in South Florida, especially in Boca Raton where I live, people enjoy shopping. With great varieties such as Town Centre Mall in Boca Raton, Bal Harbour, the Aventura Mall, South Beach boutiques and the vintage shops along the Las Olas Riverfront, it is no wonder we love shopping!

A recent Investors Business Daily article called "Holiday Sales Should Be Strong As Low Gas Prices Spread Cheer" has a cheerful outlook on the rapidly-approaching holiday season. According to the article, "The average shopper expects to hike holiday spending by 7% this year, according to a National Retail Federation poll by BIGresearch."

The president of Retail Metrics told Investors Business Daily that increased wages, the lowest unemployment rate in over five years and the decrease in fuel costs will most likely increase the amount of money we spend during the holidays. I don't know about you, but filling my tank for about $25 now feels a whole lot better than the $36 it took a few months ago.

"The NRF poll found 61.6% of shoppers will hit department stores this holiday season, up from 53.1% in 2003. And 79% of adults ages 18 to 24 plan to shop in department stores for gifts, up from 72.9% last year and 65.9% in 2004. " That is good news for national retailers.

Gas prices down, airplane tickets up

Halloween is coming up in a few days and that means the holiday season is right around the corner. Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here. Holiday season= lots of traveling. However, while a decrease in gas prices may help motorists going home for the holidays, those who choose to fly may not catch a break.

In a Yahoo News article titled "Gas Prices Down, Flight Costs Up," it discusses how fuel costs have gone down, but states, "Meanwhile, the average round-trip ticket to fly has climbed to about $434 dollars. Early booking for people making Thanksgiving and Christmas plans is ahead of last year's pace by about 45 percent."

Early booking and increased ticket prices are a reason to start booking those holiday-time tickets right now!

South Florida gas report

Yesterday's cover of the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel featured an article titled, "For now, panel shows commuters enjoy a break from high gas prices." The Sun-Sentinel has a gas panel compiled of 20 residents of Broward and Palm Beach County. They look for deals at gas stations and carpool to save money on fuel.

While lower gas prices are a relief, many people the Sun-Sentinel talked to aren't going to drastically change their spending habits. Lower prices are helping business owners like Mickie Donan who told the Sun-Sentinel, "Every little bit helps and these prices make an expansion more doable." Donan had planned an expansion for her coffee catering company which was hindered because of the price of gas.

Many people expect gas prices to rise after elections, closer to the holidays. Tony Murguia told the Sun-Sentinel, "This is like a temporary Band-Aid." This is a great way to describe a commodity such as petroleum that relies on the political climate for its prices: temporary.

Conflict in the Middle East and the upcoming elections are reasons why we cannot expect these low prices we are witnessing now to continue.

Did you know rain can burn gas?

I didn't either. In an article on MSN Autos titled "The truth about fuel economy ratings," reporter Ann Job exposes some of the secrets behind those fuel-economy-stickers that you see in your new car's windshield at the dealership. There is also useful information regarding how gas is really burned and why bad weather may lower your fuel-indicator more so than a drive on a sunny day.

Do you notice that you have way less miles-per-gallon than that sticker originally advertised? Job says, "The fuel economy estimates for new cars, provided in large black type on window stickers, can overstate fuel mileage by as much as 34 percent, according to the Bluewater Network. The network is a California-based environmental group that petitioned the U.S. government more than two years ago to change the way fuel mileage is calculated.
These estimates, mandated by the federal government starting in the 1970s, were never based on real-world driving. Instead, they're derived, sort of backhandedly, from emissions test procedures. And the process of developing the estimates has been updated only once, in 1985."

That means that these calculations were last updated the year I was born. I have been on the earth for 21 years and counting. Something doesn't seem right here.

Job says that real-road problems that drain your fuel tank like tire pressure, wheel alignment, use of air conditioning and bad weather are not accounted for in these emissions tests. "And drivers who manage their driving habits—accelerating gradually, driving smoothly and with care—can boost fuel economy as much as 20 percent compared to a more aggressive driving style, the EPA says. " Your fuel efficiency also depends on how you keep up with tire rotations, oil changes and other maintenance on your vehicles.

Gas prices at national low

Gas prices were all over the evening news with stories on CBS and NBC tonight. CBS reported that the national average of gas prices today is $2.23 a gallon, the lowest it has been since last Christmas. The Department of Energy came up with this number, which is $.81 lower than numbers in August.

CBS reporter Anthony Mason questions the correlation between lower prices at the pump and President Bush's popularity. Several citizens that were interviewed said they believe that if the economy is good, people will be swayed to vote Republican. While some are labeled conspiracy theorists for having this belief, it is not unreasonable to question why gas prices have suddenly dropped at such a time in the political world.

NBC Evening News also covered the drop in gas prices and one woman agrees, "It's pretty convenient now that elections are coming up." Reporter Kerry Sanders did a road trip story for NBC in which he drove from Massachusetts to Maine, documenting gas prices and people's thoughts on the drop in costs. One family stated that it was too expensive to travel this summer and now that fuel costs have dropped, they have more money to spend on weekend trips.

Sanders reported that he spent $43.44 on his road trip; a figure that would have been almost $60 if he went in the summer.

Plan a trip with AAA

AAA is known to be one of the most popular and reliable roadside-assistance programs in America. Not only do they help you change your flat tire or tow your car when it breaks down, they offer an informational Website that calculates fuel costs for you instantly.

When you select your starting city, destination city, car make, car year and car model, AAA lets you know about how much gas you will need and the miles driven on your trip. They also have information on the day's regional gas averages. For today,

• Pacific Coast: $2.58 a gallon
• Southwest: $2.14 a gallon
• Mountain West: $2.45 a gallon
• Midwest: $2.12 a gallon
• Great Lakes: $2.20 a gallon
• Southeast: $2.15 a gallon
• Mid-Atlantic: $2.23 a gallon
• New England: $2.27 a gallon

So the next time you plan a road trip or maybe just a quick getaway, AAA is there to help!

Cleaner diesel fuel on its way

In a recent Financial Times article, a story called "US motorists gear up to use greener diesel fuel" caught my eye. When I hear the word "diesel," I think of giant trucks barreling down I-95 with black, pollution-filled exhaust bursting out in puffs into the air. However, diesel fuel has become a popular octane choice at the pumps. A new form of diesel fuel is going on sale in the days to come. It is sure to be an alternative form of gas that is both environmentally friendly, while saving you money.

Bernard Simon says,"The clean-burning ultra-low sulphur diesel emits only 15 parts per million of sulphur, compared with 500 parts for existing diesel. Used in conjunction with the latest diesel engines, it greatly reduces the noise, smell and soot that have up to now turned many Americans off diesel."

Volkswagen offers various models of its cars that run on diesel gas. One of their most popular is the Turbo Diesel Beetle, which I test drove before purchasing my last vehicle. It seemed to have more power and wasn't as noisy as the regular Beetle, surprisingly. The article says that Mercedes-Benz is introducing a diesel-fueled E320 Bluetec Saloon next week as well as Honda, GM and Volkswagen who plan to sell more diesel-powered vehicles in the near future.

"Chrysler plans to introduce the US’s first full-sized, diesel-powered sports-utility vehicle early next year in the form of a diesel version of its Jeep Grand Cherokee." Here in South Florida, SUV's are very popular, so this offers an alternative to the standard fuel model. Diesel fuel "offers 30-45 percent more fuel economy than petrol."

Go get gas...prices rising

Take that as good advice and go fill up. On NBC's Today they mentioned that prices of fuel will be rising this week because of oil suppliers cutting the amount of barrels for sale. I think it may have something to do with the whole North Korean conflict that appeared in the news this week. If nuclear threats aren't enough to drive fuel costs up, I don't know what is.

I looked for newspaper articles on the Web predicting a slight rise in prices for the upcoming weeks, but did not see any posted yet. That sign for $2.40 at your local Hess may not last long, so fill up just to be safe.

This week's fuel finds

Whether you live in South Florida or are visiting the southern part of the beautiful Sunshine State, here is a quick-reference-guide to the cheapest gas you can find.

Cheap Boca Raton gas:

• $2.49 a gallon: Chevron at North Federal Highway & Spanish River Road
• $2.49 a gallon: BP at North Federal Highway & Spanish River Road
• $2.59 a gallon: Chevron on Yamato Road & Congress Avenue

Cheap Deerfield Beach gas:

• $2.36 a gallon: Marathon at 2101 E. Sample Road
• $2.39 a gallon: Citgo at Powerline Road & Hillsboro Boulevard
• $2.42 a gallon: Shell at Powerline Road & Fourth Street

Cheap Delray Beach gas:

• $2.43 a gallon: Valero on Military Trail
• $2.45 a gallon: Hess on Military Trail
• $2.46 a gallon: Shell at Atlantic Avenue & Military Trail

Cheap Boynton Beach gas:

• $2.34 a gallon: BJ's on Boynton Beach Boulevard
• $2.39 a gallon: BP at Boynton Beach Boulevard & Congress Avenue
• $2.41 a gallon: Shell at Boynton Beach Boulevard & Congress Avenue

Cheap Coral Springs gas:

• $2.36 a gallon: Texaco at Wiles Road; west of Riverside Drive
• $2.36 a gallon: Citgo at 8161 Wiles Road
• $2.40 a gallon: Shell on Lyons Road & Sample Road

Cheap Miramar gas:

• $2.35 a gallon: Mobil at 4090 State Road 7
• $2.39 a gallon: Miramar Parkway & US 441

Cheap Pompano Beach gas:

• $2.29 a gallon: Hess at Powerline Road & Atlantic Boulevard
• $2.34 a gallon: Liberty at 101 E. Atlantic Blvd.
• $2.34 a gallon: Valero at McNab & Cypress Road

Cheap Pembroke Pines gas:

• $2.37 a gallon: BP at Pines Boulevard & 184th Avenue
• $2.39 a gallon: Citgo at University Drive & Taft Street

Cheap Hollywood gas:

• $2.36 a gallon: Citgo on Sheridan Street
• $2.39 a gallon: BP on US 441 & Pembroke Road
• $2.46 a gallon: 7-Eleven at 4112 S. Ocean Drive

Cheap Fort Lauderdale gas:

• $2.25 a gallon: RaceTrac at SR 84 & Southwest 14th Avenue
• $2.29 a gallon: Texaco at 17th Street Causeway & Cordova Road
• $2.41 a gallon: Sunoco at Commercial Boulevard & Dixie Highway

Cheap Miami gas:

• $2.25 a gallon: Valero on Unity Boulevard & Miami Gardens Drive
• $2.25 a gallon: Mobil at 3201 NW 79th St.
• $2.29 a gallon: American at Bird Road & 92nd Avenue
• $2.49 a gallon: BP at 1000 Biscayne Blvd.
• $2.53 a gallon: BP at 1402 Collins Ave.

All gas prices found on Miamigasprices.com

Fuel costs through the years

We all know that the prices we pay today for gas are much more expensive than just a year or two ago. When I first started college, I remember pumping gas for around $1.75 a gallon in some places.

Ever wonder how much gas costed back in the 50's? One of my favorite Websites, How Stuff Works, has an article that I found pretty interesting.

Gas Prices Through The Years (adjusted for inflation by the Department of Energy):

• 1950: $1.91 a gallon
• 1955: $1.85 a gallon
• 1960: $1.79 a gallon
• 1965: $1.68 a gallon
• 1970: $1.59 a gallon
• 1975: $1.80 a gallon
• 1980: $2.59 a gallon
• 1985: $1.90 a gallon
• 1990: $1.51 a gallon
• 1995: $1.28 a gallon
• 2001: $1.66 a gallon
• 2002: $1.31 a gallon
• 2003: $1.52 a gallon
• 2004: $1.79 a gallon
• 2005: $2.28 a gallon
• 2006: $3.03 a gallon

Gas continues to go down

It is no surprise that gas prices are extremely low these days in South Florida. I actually pumped a tank full at $2.49 a gallon the other day. Talk about a sigh of relief after spending around $3 a gallon this whole summer. A Los Angeles Times story has a few ideas on why this may be so.

In an article titled "Gasoline Prices Fall for Eighth Straight Week," it mentions that according to the Energy Department's statistics, the national average on unleaded gas was $2.31 a gallon on Monday, nearly a 7 cent drop since the previous week. "Since early August, the retail average has plummeted 72.8 cents a gallon nationwide and 63.6 cents in California. Industry experts expect the trend to continue."

That is great news for anyone with a vehicle! But, why is this so? It is amazing how gas prices are able to fluctuate the way they have been for this year. One attributing cause is the decrease in crude oil prices, which are at about $61 a barrel now; a remarkably lower number than the $77 figure in July. Also, "Analysts say the recent price break stems in part from refiners trimming their profit margins after months of unusually high earnings."

Remind me to thank the oil refineries for realizing the extent to which they made a profit this past year.