Fueling a change in habits

The jump in gasoline prices last month has some motorists altering their buying and driving habits and has resulted in a decline of customers for one area gas station.

Since the fourth of July gas prices have risen from $3.77 per gallon to $3.97 per gallon in less than a month for regular gasoline and more than $4 for premium grade gas.

Hewlett resident Stephen Witt recalled when gas cost less than $1 and is aware that people in different financial circumstances are affected in different ways. “It is especially hard for retirees and people on fixed incomes,” said Witt, adding that he thinks people who earn the minimum wage or less would have more trouble rationing gas money each week than those in the upper income brackets. “The biggest problem people think of is if the gas prices go up, so may other commodities.”

Witt believes that trouble in the Mideast, especially the ongoing unrest in Egypt could affect gasoline prices in the future. “If there is civil war in Egypt, access to the Suez Canal could be limited and therefore, access to gas will be affected in turn.”

Hewlett Bay Park resident, David Fogel, also noticed the sharp in gas prices. Fogel just graduated from Wesleyan University and returned to New York. “Since I don’t do much driving, the increased gas prices have not affected me much, but I have noticed it costs ten dollars more to fill up my tank in New York than it does in Connecticut.”

Not only have Five Towns residents felt the effects, but businesses as well. Tony Hoeffner, owner of a Gulf station in Valley Stream, has seen a decline in customers in the past couple of weeks, attributing it mainly to the price of gas. “Prices go up and people complain, rightfully so,” he said. “People are filling their tanks only half way as opposed to full on many occasions.”

Hoeffner also said he has noticed that less people are choosing to drive their cars, as well as take vacations because it cost more to fill up their tanks.

But those changes in habits could be short-lived as July’s price spike began to slow at the end of the month and early August prices has gas once again dropping below $4 per gallon for regular depending on the station.

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