TOLEDO, Ohio -
Gas prices are once
again on the rise, and some are predicting gas will hit the $5 mark later this
year, but there are some programs that can help save you big bucks at the pump.
There are a number of
fuel savings programs at stores, including Giant Eagle and Costco. At Kroger,
there's a way for you to shave up to $1 a gallon off your bill.
Program that allow consumers
to earn fuel savings points for buying things like groceries are becoming more
popular.
"There's an obvious tendency when fuel prices
go up, more people come into the store and want to sign up for the fuel program
to get savings at the pump," says manager Chuck Woodmancy.
The program at Kroger is
growing.
"We've expanded our
redemption centers to include Shell, as a matter of convenience for our
customers, so they can also get their savings at a Shell fuel center,"
Woodmancy says.
It doesn't end there. Woodmancy
says, if you sign up for a Kroger Visa card starting next week, there is an
added savings.
"You get 25 cents off a
gallon at the pump, and there are no additional purchase requirements," he
says. "Say you have 1,000 points on your card, you get $1 off, plus the 25
cents, for a total of $1.25 off."
Some experts predict a
gallon of regular unleaded could hit $5 this summer.
"That's like an added tax, and that will hurt
the economy and any growth," says Alan Lancz. "It's like a discretionary income,
because more of your savings will be going to filing up your tank to go to work
or whatever."
Lancz says gas prices
and the unemployment numbers will obviously be the two top priorities in November.
"It's a Catch 22," he
says. "The economy increases, there's more demand, so prices go up. But, if
they spike too much, it could dampen the economic growth, and in this election it
could be a big factor."
A little piece of
information to make American consumer feel a little better: Gas is a whole lot
more expensive in Europe. In fact, many Europeans
pay at least double what we do.
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