KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — You drive on one side of town and you see the price per gallon of gas at your local station.
But then you go to a different block and the price different at that station, sometimes drastically. Then you see the price is yet different at another station, and you may wonder what’s going on and why prices vary at different stations.
As of Wednesday, October 5, for the city of Kalamazoo as an example, the price of gas at one station on the corner of South Sprinkle Road and East N Avenue was $3.95 per gallon. But at the corner of Miller Road and Sprinkle however, the price is up by more than 50 cents per gallon at $4.49.
But down the road at South Burdick and Cork Street, the price is down a touch $4.17 per gallon.
“It can simply be that one gas station just purchased a new round of gas at the higher price, and another gas station may have more of that gas that they purchased at a lower price,” says AAA Spokesperson Adrienne Woodland who tells us that seeing differing prices between gas stations in bigger metropolitan areas is not that uncommon.
“Gas stations closer to expressways or attractions tend to be higher than other gas stations as well as supply and demand. Gas stations that may not have another competitor nearby could be pricier than say, you know a corner where you got like a gas station on every corner,” said Woodland.
Besides the basic issues that are currently driving prices such as refinery maintenance issues all around the U.S., world events and increased demand, Woodland predicts prices could go a little higher as crude prices are expected to go up as of Wednesday, October 5.
And top that off with Michigan having some of the highest gas prices compared to the rest of the county.
“Right now we are definitely dealing with much prices. Fortunately, we’re not anywhere quite near the record highs we saw earlier this year that were set back in June,” said Woodland who warns not to expect under three dollar per gallon gas prices anytime soon, for Michigan at least.
