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Winter visitors to the Lone Star State this year may benefit from falling gas prices at the pump, a welcome development for RV owners and fifth wheel travelers.
As the U.S. and world economy continues to falter amid Wall St. woes and banking problems, the demand for fuel has declined in recent weeks, pushing supplies greater than usual and having an affect on pump prices nationwide.
But, perhaps, because Texas is a major refining state and one that stores large volumes of refined petroleum, the price appears to be lower in Texas than in most places in the country. That's especially true this year.
"That's the kind of problems I like to see happening," says Charles Baker of Ames, Iowa, a winter visitor to Texas for the last eight years. "Gas prices have gone up so much in the last couple of years that it has forced us to reconsider hauling the motor home all the way to Texas. It takes real bite out of the budget."
Baker is not alone in his concern over high fuel prices. For the Bakers, who winter in the Rio Grande Valley each year, the one-way cost for fuel in their diesel motor coach runs a little over $500. Including the trip home and a few side trips along the way, the Bakers say they spend about $1,400 a year on fuel and oil.
"That's about five percent our annual retirement income. If gas goes back up again, it gets hard to justify the annual trip," Baker adds.
The good news - at least for the moment - is that pump prices have dropped considerably in recent weeks, and experts say that trend is expected to coninue at least until next spring.
Triple A of Texas is reporting the average price per gallon for unleaded motor fuel is Texas is hovering around $3.28 a gallon across Texas during the second week of October (2008). But thrifty buyers can find fuel as low as $2.59 a gallon in parts of Texas.
The Texas Coastal Bend and the Rio Grande Valley are sporting the lowest prices at the pump as of this writting, with regular unleaded selling for $2.59 in both Corpus Christi and in McAllen. ANd while the daily price is expected to flucuate, analysts say they expect prices may continue to slide slightly in the weeks ahead.
In May of 2004, gas prices broke the $2 a gallon mark nationwide. But over the four year period that followed, that price doubled. The latest average pump price in Texas has seen a roll back to 2005 levels say experts, a relief for not only vactioners and travlers, but for industry as well.
The City of Corpus Christi, for example. estimates their savings on gas prices alone to operate government vehcles could exceed a quarter million dollar this year if the lower prices hold.
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Rio Grande Valley
