Gas Prices, Price on Food, Etc. (Denver, Colorado Springs: sale, real estate, coupon)

[ScottyDoesKnow]

I am so sorry if this has been posted before, but I tried a search and all I got were responses related to other areas throughout the country. I wanted to know about southern Colorado like around Alamosa, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs.

Was wondering what was the going rate these days for Regular Unleaded and what American-based oil companies have gas stations available out that way. I used to use Citgo until I found out it's a Saudi product. Now, I use Marathon but there aren't any Marathons east of the Mississippi. I try to buy U.S. products whenever I can. Any help there would be appreciated.

Also was wondering what kind of prices you have to pay for foods like milk, eggs, and a loaf of bread--normal everyday foods. That would give me an idea on what kind of increase or decrease in prices that I'm paying now and can at least prepare for it.

Again, I appreciate the help. I'm looking forward to finishing my education at Adams State College and living in Colorado. I leave in four weeks! Peace, guys!

[Crematia]

In Pueblo: Gas yesterday was $3.93. Milk was ~$3.00/gallon. Bread I think was on sale for $1.25 for the store brand. Albertsons gives you a gas coupon if you spend I believe it's $100, you get 50 cents off per gallon and the coupon's good for about a week.

I find groceries are a lot more expensive than what I'm used to and there's no explanation of WHY, I even asked the store manager at Albertsons. Cold cuts average $2.99-$4.99 in MA, here they average $5.99-$7.99 and are inferior quality as well. A simple thing like a Renuzit air freshener thing was $2.79 in MA, it's $4.99 here. I simply refuse to pay it.

[Idunn]

Haven't bought a loaf of bread there lately, so can't say. There may be, but I do not recall any Citgo or Marathon gas stations. Conoco is one of the major brands present. There are Shell stations in northern Colorado, and probably various locations in the south as well. Would guess that regular petrol goes for about $4.30 in Alamosa, CO presently. I do know that it is generally, if not always, significantly more expensive in the mountains than along the Front Range.

Real estate may not be one of your concerns, but in general the San Luis Valley would be more affordable than other areas of Colorado, such as areas along the Front Range or mountain resort communities. In comparison to Manchester, TN, not sure.

In compensation you have some great country fairly close to explore. And, yes, petrol will be a consideration. Nevertheless heading west on US 160 will take you to the nicely situated South Fork, CO, thence either over Wolf Creek Pass or along the Rio Grande river into the mountains and such places as Creede, CO. And points beyond. You may not like the cost in fuel, but in recompense some of the places and sights you will find may be more than worth it.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by ScottyDoesKnow

I am so sorry if this has been posted before, but I tried a search and all I got were responses related to other areas throughout the country. I wanted to know about southern Colorado like around Alamosa, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs.

Was wondering what was the going rate these days for Regular Unleaded and what American-based oil companies have gas stations available out that way. I used to use Citgo until I found out it's a Saudi product. Now, I use Marathon but there aren't any Marathons east of the Mississippi. I try to buy U.S. products whenever I can. Any help there would be appreciated.

Also was wondering what kind of prices you have to pay for foods like milk, eggs, and a loaf of bread--normal everyday foods. That would give me an idea on what kind of increase or decrease in prices that I'm paying now and can at least prepare for it.

Again, I appreciate the help. I'm looking forward to finishing my education at Adams State College and living in Colorado. I leave in four weeks! Peace, guys!

citgo is actually a Venezuela company, still one I have not bought from for simple reasons

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Originally Posted by Noahma

citgo is actually a Venezuela company, still one I have not bought from for simple reasons

Oh yeah. That's right! Still not American. I won't even buy BP. British is not American either no offense to those of you from the United Kingdom. I do really try to buy American especially fuel given the current crisis our nation is facing these days with fuel. We're becoming a slave to our enemies in the Middle East over oil.

Anyways, it looks like everything is tad higher up there then it is here in southern Middle Tennessee. Wonder why that is?

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by ScottyDoesKnow

Oh yeah. That's right! Still not American. I won't even buy BP. British is not American either no offense to those of you from the United Kingdom. I do really try to buy American especially fuel given the current crisis our nation is facing these days with fuel. We're becoming a slave to our enemies in the Middle East over oil.

Anyways, it looks like everything is tad higher up there then it is here in southern Middle Tennessee. Wonder why that is?

First, forget the "Buy American" at an American brand station nonsense when it comes to fuel. The brand name flying on the station usually has nothing to do with where the fuel comes from. Most all of the fuel sold in Colorado, no matter what gas station brand, comes from a handful of refineries--Frontier in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Sinclair in Sinclair, Wyoming; Suncor in Denver; Giant in Bloomfield, New Mexico to name a few. Most of the crude that supplies those refineries is domestic, some from Canada. Don't expect the supply line to be logical, either. When I lived in Wyoming, there were numerous gas stations in Cheyenne that got their fuel from the refineries in Denver. The trucks supplying them would unload at the gas station, drive a few blocks over to the Frontier Refinery, load up with fuel there, and haul it to stations back in Denver. Go figure.

Now, get this next part right. Virtually everything in Colorado will cost more than it does in the Midwest or South--food, fuel, etc. Simple fact--Colorado is geographically isolated from both the manufacturing centers of the US and the ports from where imported goods must be transported. With the current run-up in fuel costs and the impending transportation crisis in this country caused by that, expect that disparity to get even larger in the future. Cheap fuel decreased isolation in the Rocky Mountain West; increasing fuel costs and/or scarcity will dramatically increase it.

One of the few exceptions to Colorado's "high-priced" status is electricity and natural gas, but the gap is rapidly closing there. Whatever good quality of life amenities Colorado has, and there are many--though a lot of them are eroding, a favorable "affordability index" (living costs vs. income) is not one of them.

As to Alamosa, fuel prices on 7/21 (cheapest) were $4.099 for unleaded, $4.799 for diesel. Food prices are probably around 10-12% above the national average.

[Bob from down south]

The E85 I just filled my tank with is likely to be overwhelmingly American.

Regular unleaded around Colo Springs is right at $4/gal.