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Apr 25, 2008 12:32 pm US/Eastern
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Pain At The Pump: Soaring Gas Prices Extend To NJ
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
In these days of very high gas prices, it's always a good idea to shop around. If you weren't on the New Jersey Turnpike Friday morning, you missed a great opportunity.
It was a clear case of the earliest bird catching the worm Friday morning on the Jersey Turnpike, or in this case, the best deal where gas prices are concerned. CBS 2 was there first hand as commuters made the long trip to take advantage of the last affordable gas in the tri-state area.
"The only reason I stop here is that it's $3:17. Obviously it's better than Connecticut. I stop twice as I am coming and going," said driver Tony Butler.
"I get up this time every morning anyway so I took advantage of it," said driver Jim Gianella.
Then at the stroke at 5 a.m., all of the numbers at the Vince Lombardi rest stop gas pumps started changing. The price of regular jumped 22 cents to $3.39 where it will stay fixed at that number until the following Friday. For those who missed the predawn price, it was still the best deal in town:
"I am traveling from Long Island to Washington D.C. and I said let's go to New Jersey. It's still cheaper in New Jersey than in New York," said Debbie Barrett.
Those drivers who arrived after the prices increased were disappointed upon hearing the news of how much money they could have saved. CBS 2 made sure to remind them:
CBS 2: "If you'd been here two hours earlier you would have saved 22 cents a gallon."
"Oh don't tell me that. I got up at 5 a.m. to beat the price," said driver Anthony Alesci.
Even though it went up 22 cents per gallon for regular at turnpike stations, it's still a much better deal than in New York.
CBS 2 found five stations in the New York area where regular is selling for $3.99. The highest price CBS 2 found was for $4.03 for regular in Tappan in Rockland County on the Palisades Parkway. New Jersey's contract with gas suppliers for the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway allows those stations to raise their prices only once a week.
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