Downward spiral? Residents watch gasoline pumps
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on October 22, 2008 1:46 PM
News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Beatrice Birdine fuels up her PT Cruiser at the Kangaroo station on Wayne Memorial Drive in Goldsboro at $2.87 per gallon this morning. She says with gas prices dropping below the $3 mark, she is now able to go out to eat again.
Terry Thomas couldn't resist the lure of the low gas prices this morning as she headed to work in Wilson.
"I'm not filling up. I'm just putting $20 in, because I was getting low," she said at the pump in front of the Belfast Comco station at the intersection of U.S. 117 North and Stoney Creek Church Road. The price for a gallon of regular was down to $2.76.
"I really thought it would go higher, especially this summer," she said. "I'm really excited."
Few of those taking advantage of the price drop this morning said they ever expect to see gas come back down as far as $2 a gallon for regular, but they were all excited to see it finally dipping back below $3.
Owner-operator Zack Moazeb at the Stoney Creek Food Mart on N.C. 111 North said he hopes to see it dip as low $2.29.
"It is coming down a little every day," said Moazeb, who lives close by in the Stoney Creek community. "I hope we see $1.99 again, but I don't think that is possible."
Moazeb's price per gallon of regular was $2.89, and Kenneth Warrick was glad to find it. He said it does seem like the prices are coming down a little bit every day.
"It seems good," Warrick said. "I still don't believe we will see $2 a gallon again. It will come down a little bit, but not a lot, I don't think."
Meanwhile at the Sam's Club in Goldsboro, Valerie Whitfield, who was on her way to work in Greenville, said she was "one happy commuter."
She and the other motorists didn't mind standing out in the cold to talk about how happy they were with the lower gas prices, which at one point in recent months had begun climbing to near $5 per gallon for regular in some places.
"I am ecstatic at the reduction in gas prices," she said.
And even at $2.98 a gallon for regular at the Breakers station on Berkeley Boulevard, Donna Pipkin of Seven Springs also said she was ecstatic, because for the first time in a long time, she was able to fill her tank again.
"I couldn't afford it before. I tell you it's been tough," she said. "Before, it was costing $55 to $60 to fill up. Now, I'm filling up for $40 to $50.
"This is definitely better."