Panic not supply rises gas prices...
As hurricane Ike prepared to slap into Texas like Tina, panic over supply demand caused a run-on-the-pumps throughout much of metro Atlanta, driving prices up sharply as much as two dollars per gallon in some areas. The governors office received over five hundred complaints of price gouging by station owners and the local media began a campaign over the weekend shining a spotlight on his honest filling stations looking to turn a quick buck.
As damage estimates continue to arrive it largely appears the oil refineries in the stricken region only received minimum damage, although it may take up to two weeks before any lost refinery capacity is restored. Gasoline prices in Atlanta are expected to remain about the national average for at least another week.
