Are gas stations price-gouging? Gas expert breaks down what constitutes as gouging

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With rising costs of fuel, many viewers have reached out asking if they’re being price-gouged at local gas stations.

Around 7,000 convenience stores across Florida sell gasoline. While their asking prices can vary by a couple cents a gallon, Action News Jax found some were charging customers at outrageous rates.

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Last week, we told you about a Texaco station in North Jacksonville charging nearly $6.00 a gallon. We told the owner they were asking well above the state average, and they lowered the price.

“In the state of Florida, you cannot sell gasoline below cost. So when your prices are going up 50 cents, you can’t continue to keep your price down,” Ned Bowman with the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association said.

Bowman explains what it’s like from a gas station’s point of view:

“Who you’re buying fuel from is automatically taking money out of your account.”

Bowman adds that gas stations are at the whim of the traders.

“When you add 50 cents a gallon onto the cost of fuel, an 8,000-gallon truck, that’s another $4,000 dollars that the dealer has to come up with within five-to-seven days based upon the inventory that he needs into the station,” he explained.

He says gas is a commodity that goes up and down every day, and gas stations need to keep up.

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Bowman says price gouging can only happen when the governor declares a state of emergency.

He expects high prices to be around for a few more months. Bowman says drivers can save money by driving slower, combining their trips, and joining loyalty clubs with gas stations.

Florida lawmakers have agreed to halt the 26.5 cent gas tax during the month of October.

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