Falling Gas Prices

Chris Dennison smiled broadly while he fueled the tanks of a fleet of lawnmowers and several gas cans for just less than 3.78 a gallon for unleaded at Race Trac gas station, in Avon Park on Tuesday.

It recently cost Dennison $180 for a tank of diesel fuel to fill the truck that hauls those mowers. The owner of Dennison's Lawn Service was pleased by the 8 percent price cut to fill nine work vehicles for several businesses, since gas prices peaked in mid-July.

"I'm sure that gas is on everybody's mind," said Dennison. "When you pay more for gas, you make cuts somewhere else. I'm sure everybody feels the crunch."

Daughter Kara Dennison did her homework and discovered where gas was listed as the cheapest in the county. She regularly surfs the Web for gas prices at each station in the county.

"The Internet makes it more current so you don't have to drive around looking for cheaper gas," said Kara Dennison.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that crude oil price fell to $118 a barrel, which is down $29 a barrel from a high of $147.

Randy Bly, director of community relations for AAA Auto Club South, said it might be a money saver to only fill the tank halfway, since prices will likely dip lower next week.

Florida gas dropped more than 20 cents a gallon to $3.874, from a July 17 high of $4.07 a gallon, according to AAA.

With the dollar trading stronger, and U.S. and foreign demand down, Bly expects the price of unleaded gas at the pump to possibly reach $3.50 a gallon, soon after Labor Day.

"If we see crude oil prices continue to drop, or to stay at $120 a barrel, then we'll continue to see prices decline through next week." said Bly.

The price of crude is heavily influenced by the weather, said Bly. If a major hurricane disrupts oil production and refining in the Gulf of Mexico, crude oil prices might skyrocket.

Connie Christian, of Sebring, was fueling up at Race Trac, on Tuesday, and was skeptical of current prices.

"It's come down before and comes back up," said Christian. "Seems like they lower it, just to raise it up."

A brand new 2009 Chevrolet Aveo sat in the show room at Plaza Chevrolet, in Avon Park, while full sized pickup trucks that seemed twice as large sat tucked around a corner.

Salesman Julio Luna said car buyers are buying more fuel efficient vehicles, but this weekend the dealer sold several pickup trucks.

"If the gas prices come down a little bit more, we'll get more truck customers," said Luna.

Tony Rose, Plaza manager, said that while other local automobile dealers are stocking fewer trucks than before, Plaza is betting that gas prices will continue to fall and truck sales will rebound.

"Some people are running scared with trucks," said Rose, about taking trucks as trade-ins. "Most places aren't buying trucks. Soon we'll be back to normal."