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American Morning
Pump Prices Climb in Chicago
Aired May 17, 2001 - 10:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Taking a look ahead at the summer travel season, one of the things they're looking at: How busy will the summer travel season will be? They have already announced raising gas prices might be pinching your pocketbooks, but they don't predict it's going to hurt the travel industry and any of your travel plans this summer. That being said, it still is hurting a lot of people in the wallet and people across country talking about how expensive gas is.
Nowhere is it more expensive than in the Chicago area, and that's where we find our Lisa Leiter. She is live at a Chicago gas station this morning.
Lisa, good morning once again.
LISA LEITER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Daryn.
Well, like you said, the prices here among the highest in the nation. The average price here in Chicago today, $2.07 a gallon; that's according to AAA. But at this Shell station here on the north side of Chicago the average price for a regular gallon of gasoline is $2.15. And the owner here told us this morning that he's growing weary of having all his customers come in shouting at him saying, why are gas prices so high, blaming him for the high gas prices.
So he's come up with an idea; he's offering incentives. He's giving people this card right here, telling them they could get 50 percent off on an oil change if they fill up tank. So that's at least something.
And I'm here with Shannon (ph), who's one of Sam Oesha's (ph) regular customers.
Shannon, you filled up your tank today, how much do it cost you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Close to $27.
LEITER: And how much is that different compared to what you used to pay for gas?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the summer of '99 prices used to be down low enough, at 99 cents, that I could fill up me entire tank for almost $10.
LEITER: Do you drive a lot for your job? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I drive every day. Most of what I do is in my car: transporting children and families back and forth for the state with the Department of Children and Family Services. So most of what we do is in cars throughout the city and in the suburbs.
LEITER: And you were saying you get reimbursed for your gas. Have they increased the amount you're reimbursed for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No they have not. Since '99 the price was still 34 cents a mile, approximately; and now that gas prices have gone up, it's still 34 cent a mile.
LEITER: What kind of car do you drive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mitsubishi Eclipse.
LEITER: OK, so at least it's a small gas and not a gas guzzling SUV.
What do you think that local politicians, national politicians, the president's out with his energy plan -- what do you think they should be doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Quite personally, I'm not very impressed with the president's energy plan. But as far as the state and city, I know that Mayor Daley initiated a plan, or at least a call for action to review what's going on with the gas prices. My understanding is that they basically came up with the fact that it's nobody's fault, it's just kind of happening, we have to kind of stick with it. But as for right now, I personally have not seen any changes or any recommendations from anybody to fix it.
LEITER: Are you changing your driving habits because of the prices?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, I don't have a choice. If I don't transport the clients back and forth, I go to jail. So, you know, it's either I spend the money on jail -- you know, bail bond, getting out of jail or I end up spending the amount of money on my gas. So, you know, one or the other, either way I lose.
LEITER: All right, Shannon, thank you very much.
So, Daryn, Shannon just one of many customers we've talked to this morning who are paying those higher prices. And whether or not an oil change is enough to pacify them for time being remains to be seen.
But nevertheless, Sam here, the owner, saying that prices are expect to come down at some point after Memorial Day. He had a meeting yesterday with Shell representatives. And because of what you were talking with Chris about -- the fact that gasoline futures prices are starting to soften, that could help the retail price situation going forward -- Daryn.
KAGAN: So, Lisa, just so I understand these incentives correctly: so if you're frustrated about spending too much gasoline (sic) at this gas station, they're inviting you to come and spend even more money is the idea?
LEITER: Exactly; exactly. But it's a psychological thing. They hand you a card, and you feel like you're getting something for nothing, even though you may really not be.
KAGAN: Invitation to keep spending.
All right, Lisa Leiter in Chicago, thank you.
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