Hurricane Ike has put a premium on regular, and some stations don't have any more regular to sell.
So I thought I was about to get socked in the wallet when I pulled into a Carrboro Kangaroo station this morning. The notices taped to each pump said "Premium only."
These days, premium gas usually costs about 30 cents a gallon more than regular. A lot of stations around town had been selling regular for $4.299 Friday night. The Triangle average price for regular rose by 19 cents overnight to $3.882, and the average for premium rose to $4.198.
But the price for premium at this Kangaroo station was $3.989.
A veritable bargain and, surely, a marketing fluke. Thanks for small favors, Ike.

Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
WHERE IS THE ATTORNEY
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 21:42 — Anonymous (not verified)WHERE IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL? HE SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO ALLOW PRICE GOUGING. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CAP ALL GAS PRICES NOW. OUR FAMILY IS STRUGGLING AND IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T STEP IN AND ORDER THE PRICES DOWN IN AN EMERGENCY, THAT'S A CRYING SHAME.
4.00/ gallon isn't a
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 17:35 — Anonymous (not verified)4.00/ gallon isn't a bargain, its a rip off.