Gas prices down, customers up

Less than three months ago, signs at some local stations read $4.11 per gallon of regular unleaded gas.

Today, that cost has been reduced by almost one-third, and area drivers are somewhat happier to be filling up.

Those in West Virginia do have a little higher price to pay when it comes to fuel because of the addition of a gas tax.

A gallon of regular unleaded gas on Monday cost an average of $3.09, and lines were not forming the way they were in Ohio. But for those who did visit the pumps, they also are hoping for lower prices in the future.

Weirton resident Mike Jackson said he "hopes prices stay this way and hopefully go a little bit lower."

Joyce Smythe was visiting relatives and family in Weirton this weekend and needed to fuel up her car before her trip back to Hagertown, Md.

Smythe explained in her hometown there are several gas stations affiliated with grocery stores, and she times her gas purchases with buying groceries. She noted she saves between 20 and 40 cents a gallon in doing so. She believes prices here may be a little lower than in Maryland but it is roughly the same amount.

Some West Virginia residents noted they cross the river to save money, and Alan Cameron is one of those people.

Cameron resides in New Cumberland but works in Wintersville. He noted he will stop at the Speedway near his workplace and fill up his work van while stopping at Kwik King on at the bottom of University Boulevard to fill up his own vehicle.

"It's nice that the price has come down, but I still go to Ohio to purchase it," Cameron said. "I still try to find the cheapest prices."

In Steubenville, the cost of gasoline averaged between $2.90 to $2.95 on Monday. Steubenville resident Becky Miller was among those filling their vehicles at that price.

"I think it's wonderful," she said of the $2.95 per gallon being offered at the BP on Sunset Boulevard. "Finally," she added.

"It still needs to come down more though because it's still not where it should be," Miller added.

When asked if she purchases more gasoline for her vehicle now as opposed to two months ago, she replied her visits to the gas station are more often.

"When it's half way full, I come and fill up," Miller noted. "That way it feels as if I'm not spending that much." She noted the Sunset BP is the station she prefers because, according to her, it has the lowest prices compared to other stations.

Another Steubenville resident making his way to the BP on Sunset Boulevard Monday was Keith Smith.

He explained he "still can't fill up" his car because he believes the cost "is still too high."

"They're giving us a little breathing room right now," Smith said.

"It's getting close to election time and some people are just making things look good," he said.

In Toronto, Ohio, those at the BP station say they are hoping the costs go even lower.

Gem City resident Donna King stated on her way to work that "the prices are better, but I hope they go down more."

"I can afford to fill up more," she added, noting her Ford Expedition costs $110 to fill the tank. "With the prices being lower, it does help a little. But I would still like to see the price at $1.37 a gallon again, but that will never happen."

Also wanting to see prices drop was Toronto resident Jeff Jacobson.

He said Monday he always purchases his gasoline from the Toronto BP and believes that anything lower than the current price "would be great."

"I think it might go down," he said of the prices, "but for right now it's a good thing."

(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com)