Drivers Try To Beat Gas Price Hike

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Some gas stations ran out of regular unleaded fuel after drivers lined up, hoping to beat price increases they feared would come after Hurricane Katrina disrupted oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, the Associated Press reported.

One station sold about 1,500 gallons of gasoline in 1 1/2 hours, according to the manager.

Service stations along a portion of a busy street in Greenville had signs and plastic bags over pumps on Monday night to signal they had run out of fuel. Regular unleaded gasoline sold for about $2.57 a gallon.

CSNews Online reported Tuesday, The Pantry asked customers to restrict driving because the effect of hurricane Katrina could not be predicted for several days, according to Peter Sodini, CEO of The Pantry.

"Nothing has moved in the Gulf of Mexico for the last two days," said Sodini. "Probably 90 percent of our supply comes through the Gulf of Mexico."
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