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Highlands Today

GAS PRICES: Sky High

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Sandy Lewis of Sebring fills his tank with 89 octane gas on Monday at the Raceway gas station south of Sebring. "I always stop here because it is one of the cheapest stations," said Lewis. He traveled to Georgia last week and said the prices in Highlands were no different than prices going up north.

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By Dan  Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: November 13, 2007

SEBRING — Want a good excuse not to visit your family this holiday season? How about the cost of gas?

With crude oil prices trading at more than $95 per barrel Monday, the cost for a gallon of gas reached an all-time high in several cities throughout Florida.

Orlando had a record average price of $3.09 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline Monday, while the average at Sebring gas stations was $3.10 per gallon, according to the Web site www.floridastategasprices.com

"(Gas prices) may be a good excuse to shy away from visiting my family around the holidays," said Laurie Kelley of Sebring. "The oil companies are greedy; they act like they're not already getting enough profit."

Confirming Kelley's concerns, there's speculation that the prices could go up or down around the holiday season.

"We think there may be a small window for oil prices to drop before Thanksgiving, but this week will be a volatile week (for oil traders) in determining how high prices will be," said Randy Bly, director of community relations for AAA Auto Club South.

Even if there is a slight decrease around Thanksgiving, don't expect it to last.

Earlier this month, when oil was trading at more than $96 a barrel, it surpassed previous record highs set in 1980, when the cost hit $38, which is equal to current prices after inflation adjustments.

Paul Gurrieri, who said he fills up his Saturn VUE a couple times per week, said he'll have to pay the rising prices.

"I don't think it's going to impact me or my holiday plans," said Gurrieri. "There's not much you can do but buy it, regardless of the price."

Gurrieri said he shares a ride to work with his wife, the owner of Judi's Place of Hair and Nails, in Sebring.

"I don't know whether or not (the amount of oil people use) influence prices," said Gurrieri. "I think the oil companies are going to try to make as much money as they can."

"History shows that November is typically a low demand month, so that may impact the price" said Bly, who also said that the trade prices could break $100 per barrel in the future. "Speculators and traders could push up the price. It changes every day."

As of Monday, prices in Florida averaged $3.14 per gallon of gas, which Bly said is slightly less than the $3.143 per gallon average residents saw on May 24, this year, which was an all-time high.

"I would keep an eye on the state average," said Bly. "It's more than likely going to break the all-time high."

Mary Jane Matheny, who runs Matheny Travel, of Sebring, said that the rising oil costs have had no major impact on her business, although fees are now being added to some of the cruise packages she offers.

"It's too early to tell if the fuel prices are having an impact, so far it hasn't hurt business, it's just been one of those things where people shrug it off," said Matheny.

Matheny said that recently fuel surcharges were added to Carnival Cruise packages that depart after Feb. 1, 2008. The fuel surcharges are $5 per person, per day.

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