P.M. BRIEFING : Ripoffs at Gas Pumps Alleged
Motorists are losing more than $150 million a year at gas stations that sell low-octane gas at high-octane prices, and the federal government is doing little to stop it, a congressional report said today.
The General Accounting Office said a two-year study, which included random testing of retail gasoline in four states, showed widespread mislabeling of gasoline octane levels.
The GAO estimated that about 9% of gasoline sold nationwide is mislabeled. It said that more than half the samples taken last year in two large cities--Detroit and St. Louis--were found to have octane ratings an average of 2.2 or more points below what was posted on the pump.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
