>Do you remember the days when most of the gas stations were owned and run locally? When you drove to the cheapest station or the station owned by a friend or a friend of a friend? When conglomerates starting buying them all up and merging and then started under-pricing the little man, those remaining complained that it was the calm before the storm. They stated in news interviews that eventually when the big guys either owned all the little guys or drove the few remaining out of business that then the slow increase in petrol would ensue due to lack of competition. Interesting. I'm not saying that has anything to do with the current price of petrol, but it is interesting to think back on it. Wonder if any of those little guys are still around?

The last two in my area just gave up. One got a Valero's franchise, the other sold the shop to another guy who is just putting up the insignia these days - haven't seen yet under whose flag he sails. He may just be independent, I'm not quite sure.