Gas prices continue to siphon funds

GLENDALE — As the Los Angeles area set a new record average price for regular-grade gasoline this week at $3.73 per gallon, many Glendale motorists continue to pay higher prices at the pump.

A random survey of 15 gas stations from La Crescenta to South Glendale on Wednesday evening found nearly two-thirds of the spots charging customers 6 to 13 cents more per gallon than the regional average for regular unleaded.

“I don’t eat out, I don’t go to movies, I don’t get my nails done, I don’t even buy my dog treats anymore,” Glendale resident Shena Nickell said as she pumped regular-grade gasoline into her Ford Explorer for $3.86 per gallon at a Chevron in Montrose. “And it still hurts.”

A year ago, motorists in the Los Angeles area were grappling with regular-grade, per-gallon gasoline prices of $3.27. And as they are now, Glendale drivers were paying up to 20 cents more for the same gasoline compared with their neighbors to the west.

Glendale’s more suburban makeup, relatively less commercial traffic and fewer intersections hosting more than one gas station combine to create less competition at the pumps, and “competition, of course, helps to keep prices a little lower,” said Marie Montgomery, spokeswoman for the Automotive Club of Southern California, which tracks daily average fuel prices across the Southland.

Statewide, the average price for regular-grade gasoline climbed 7.7 cents per gallon last week to $3.68, or 35 cents higher than the national average for the same fuel, according to the California Energy Commission.

While consumers often expect prices to peak over the summer, the highest prices are usually in May, Montgomery said.

She declined to speculate how far prices might climb with three weeks left in April, but several gas stations in Glendale already had their per-gallon prices for premium gasoline above $4, with the lower grades not far below.

“If it gets that high for regular, then I think it’s time to downsize — to what, I don’t know,” Rob Scott said in reference to his Volkswagen Jetta wagon.

He was filling his tank at a Mobil station on North Verdugo Road and East Mountain Street near Glendale Community College with regular for $3.83 per gallon. For premium, the station was charging $4.05 per gallon.

While motorists may feel helpless to control the macroeconomic forces that push gas prices, market analysts say consumers can do several things to cushion the impact on household budgets.

For starters, they say, drivers should shop around.

Just a few blocks south of where Scott was filling his tank for $3.83 per gallon, the Arco station at North Verdugo Road and North Glendale Avenue was charging $3.67 per gallon for the same grade.

But drivers should also be aware of service fees that tend to crop up during rough economic times as station owners try to pass some of their costs on to consumers, Montgomery said.

As in the case of the Arco station on North Verdugo Road, the per-gallon price for regular unleaded may have been 16 cents cheaper than the Mobil two blocks away, but the company charges a 45-cent fee for motorists who pay with their debit cards, she said.

“Their margins are already so thin, especially with prices being so volatile,” she said.

Drivers can also save money at some other stations if paying with cash.

One block south of the Arco station, the 76 station on North Glendale Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard advertised cash payment prices for regular-grade gasoline at $3.67 per gallon, but $3.83 per gallon of the same fuel for credit card users.

Beyond pricing, driving habits and vehicle maintenance can also be a major factor in how much motorists pay at the pump, market watchers say.

For most vehicles, traveling more than 60 mph uses significantly more fuel, according to a AAA report.

Every 5 mph over 60 mph that drivers press their cars works out to an additional 20 cents per gallon they pay at the pump, the report found.

Maintaining proper tire pressure is also a huge contributor to increased fuel efficiency, Montgomery said. She added that AAA recommends pressure checks every other trip to the gas station.

“Yeah, it’s a pain,” she said. “But if you do it consistently, you’re probably going to save money over time,” she said.

Other things, like keeping heavy items out of the trunk and maintaining proper lubrication of vehicle parts, combined with a “smooth and even” driving style, can help drivers avoid burning fuel faster than normal, according to AAA.