Drivers feel Ike's ill winds as gas prices skyrocket (GA)

[jpak]

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/091308/new_331672810.shtml

Gov. Sonny Perdue invoked the state's anti-gouging law Friday night amid skyrocketing gasoline prices as a wave of panic buying swept the Southeast ahead of Hurricane Ike and its potential to disrupt supplies.

Prices rose by a dollar or more in Georgia and surrounding states after Gulf Coast refineries shut down in preparation for the hurricane to plow inland near Houston. One regional chain - Kangaroo, which has stations in Athens and across Northeast Georgia - urged patrons to limit themselves to 10 gallons.

"We are encouraging motorists to exercise some restraint this weekend," said AAA Carolinas spokeswoman Carol Gifford. "The run on gas is creating a crisis before there is a crisis."

Perdue invoked the Georgia law that prevents retailers from selling goods or services at an unreasonable price. It does not prevent price increases that accurately reflect an increase in the cost of the goods or services to the retailer.

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