July 24, 2008 — Premium gas hit $5.20 a gallon on St. John, the highest price in the territory, according to the latest survey by the Licensing and Consumer Affairs Department on July 18. Regular was $5.05 a gallon, a figure that is causing motorists to gasp.
The $5.20 and $5.05 prices were at E&C gas station in Cruz Bay, where it's self-serve only. Prices at Domino in Coral Bay, where an attendant pumps gas for no extra charge, ran $4.92 per gallon for regular and $5 per gallon for premium.
Licensing indicated that the average cost of diesel on St. John was estimated at $5.24 per gallon.
The picture was a bit better on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
On St. Thomas, the best price for both regular and premium grade gasoline was found at the Texaco Airport station. It sold self-service regular at $4.29 per gallon and self-service premium at $4.42 per gallon. Texaco Airport also had the best price per gallon of full-service regular and full-service premium gasoline at $4.35 and $4.47 per gallon respectively.
The most expensive gasoline on St. Thomas was full-service premium that sold for $4.93 per gallon at all Domino stations. All Domino stations also had the most expensive full-service regular at $4.85 per gallon. The most expensive self-service premium and self-service regular grade gasoline was found at Gas Works in Bovoni, which sold these gasoline products at $4.79 and $4.69 per gallon respectively. On St. Thomas, diesel averaged $4.94 per gallon.
The best price on St. Croix was at Exxcel Service Station, which sold a gallon of self-service regular for $3.75 per gallon. The most expensive self-service regular was found at Smokey's Service Corp., whose per- gallon price ran $4.02.
On St. Croix, the best buy on premium self-service was found at Karim Service Station, Exxcel Service Station and Amigos Service Station. The three stations sold this grade of fuel at $3.89 a gallon while the most expensive self-service premium fuel was sold at a price of $4.15 at six stations. They are Capital Service Station, Get N Go Service Station, La Reine Service Station, NuWay Gas Station, Quick Serve Service Station and Smokey's Service Corp.
The best price for full-service regular and premium gasoline was found at NuWay Gas Station. Regular cost $4.05 per gallon while premium ran $4.25 per gallon.
The most expensive fuel on St. Croix was at Sion Farm Service Station, which sold full-service premium at $4.59 per gallon.
The average cost of diesel fuel on St. Croix was $4.74 per gallon during the survey period.
While national news reports indicate that the cost of oil has dropped in recent days, prices at the pump reflect what the gas station owner paid for the fuel.
Coral Bay resident Barbara Thompson drives five days a week to her job at the St. John Administrator's Office in Cruz Bay.
The tab to make the trip in her Jeep Patriot recently went up to $60 a week from $40. She's had to make some adjustments to make up the difference.
"I can't buy lunch anymore. I have to bring it," she said.
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