Stateline Motorists Enjoy a Drop in Gas Prices

Rockford, IL - Labor Day typically signals the end of the summer driving season and when gas prices begin to fall. But theyve already decreased over the last few weeks. The Citgo gas station on W. State St. never saw a dull moment on Thursday afternoon. "I came here today because of the price," says Jewelyn Wilkins. Wilkins says she couldnt resist when she saw the price for regular unleaded at $2.77 a gallon. "It`s affordable," says Wilkins. "I appreciate this. It`s better than it was for the last two months." "It was really hard with gas being over three dollars and me working an hour away from here," says Linda Shaver, who lives in Rockford and commutes everyday to Monroe, WI. "I was spending at least $15, $20 a day." Shaver joined hundreds of other motorists in getting more gas for the buck. "They have the lowest prices in town I`ve seen," says Shaver. "Not only here, also in Freeport and Monroe." "All of the sudden it [the price per crude oil barrel] dropped dramatically in the last couple of days," says Fadi Sahouri, owner of the Citgo station. "So we gave the discount to the consumers right away." On Tuesday, crude oil closed below $70 a barrel for the first time since June 20. Sahouri says the reason for the drop in price is because of the drop in demand. He says although more people filled up on Thursday, theyll conserve that tank of gas. "Being at the end of the summer, at the end of the travel season, that`s usually when the prices go down," says Sahouri. "I hope it stays down," says Wilkins. "I hope it goes lower. Please!" She may soon get her wish. "We get the price everyday at 4:30 p.m.," says Sahouri. "As a matter of fact, we just got the price for Friday and it dropped two cents." Energy experts say while demand is down and supplies are ample now, refineries still face the threat of natural disasters. Hurricane season continues to threaten gas prices.