Gas prices soar to record high in Carson City

The traditional post-Labor Day gasoline price drop pulled a nasty surprise Thursday, giving Carson City most likely the highest prices ever for a gallon of fuel.

Carson City services stations charged an average $1.84 for a gallon of unleaded regular Thursday, according to a spot survey.

The local average has climbed 23 cents since June 20.

The statewide average across Nevada was $1.8072, the third highest in the nation behind Hawaii and California, said Automobile Association of America spokeswoman Bronwyn Hogan.

"It appears to be the highest ever," Hogan said. "In San Francisco, the average hit a record (Wednesday) at $2.01."

Stations surveyed in Carson City ranged from $1.79 to $1.93 for a gallon of unleaded regular. In June, the low was $1.56.

Remember fueling up in March 1998? Gasoline briefly was as cheap as 95.9 cents per gallon.

Not any more. Even the dependable low-price leader ARCO jacked up prices to $1.82 on Thursday. Gas and Save, as usual, did manage to undercut ARCO with $1.79 regular unleaded, but manager Abdul Hamid still complained.

"It's too high, man," Hamid said. "We are busy. People appreciate that we're the cheapest."

The nationwide average is only $1.54, Hogan said.

The West Coast nearly always has higher gasoline prices because of the limited petroleum refining in the region. Other factors drove the price high across the country.

"There's a low inventory of oil produced in the United States and crude oil is the highest it's been in 10 years," Hogan said.

Thursday's prices for Unleaded Regular Gas

Date April 4 April 18 May 16 June 20 July 14 Sept. 7

Bob's Texaco 705 N. Carson 1.86 1.78 1.70 1.68 1.80 1.89

Carson City Shell 1600 N. Carson 1.89 1.80 1.70 1.70 1.80 1.93

Gas and Save 1360 South Carson 1.60 1.56 1.50 1.54 1.60 1.79

Short Stop Market 1321 N. Carson 1.87 1.80 1.58 1.56 1.70 1.82

AM-PM 720 S. Carson 1.72 1.66 1.56 1.56 1.70 1.82

AM-PM 2707 Hwy. 50 East 1.73 X X X X X

AM-PM 1017 N. Carson X 1.66 1.58 1.56 1.70 1.82

AM-PM 4340 N. Carson 1.70 1.62 1.56 1.56 1.70 1.81

Seven-Eleven 3838 Hwy. 50 East 1.80 1.73 1.70 1.62 1.77 1.87

Seven-Eleven 3701 N. Carson 1.73 1.70 1.60 1.59 1.73 1.84

Winner's Corner 1400 Rand Ave. 1.82 1.80 1.70 1.70 1.80 1.89

Average price 1.77 1.71 1.62 1.61 1.73 1.84