Why are Pittsburgh's Gas Prices Still so High? (Erie, Fox Chapel: chapel, grocer)

[North Beach Person]

I was up in Cook Forest over the weekend. Went through Punx'y and it was $3.29. Got to Brookville and it was $2.92.

It's been under $3 down here in MD for about 3 weeks now. Lowest I've seen was $2.84 outside Annapolis.

To answer another question about fuel perks. Both major groceries, Giant and Safeway, have them down here. Safeway even has its own gas stations attached to some of the stores as well as having them apply at Exxon. Giant has a deal with Shell.

BP has its own fuel program. I haven't quite figured out how it works, sometimes I get a couple cents off and sometimes its a nickel off.

[Der Schwabe]

After fifteen pages, I still cannot believe that commodities in a city would be more expensive than in rural areas.

[Pitt Chick]

DH paid $2.809 in OH yesterday.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

After fifteen pages, I still cannot believe that commodities in a city would be more expensive than in rural areas.

You're absolutely right. People in Pittsburgh pay more for everything because people in Pittsburgh are much more affluent than people in the suburbs.

[Kippy]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

You're absolutely right. People in Pittsburgh pay more for everything because people in Pittsburgh are much more affluent than people in the suburbs.

In general, the poorer a neighborhood, the higher the price for goods and services. It is commonly referred to as the "ghetto tax."

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Kippy

In general, the poorer a neighborhood, the higher the price for goods and services. It is commonly referred to as the "ghetto tax."

More affluent areas attract more competition from businesses seeking to enter a market.

That tends to push prices down in better off areas.

When I worked for an inventory business 35 years ago, we went into different area supermarkets late at night. The prices at the East Liberty, East Hills, Homewood Giant Eagles were significantly higher than those in South Hills stores, where Foodland and Shop n Save had a more significant presence.

[Enough_Already]

Originally Posted by gortonator

I paid $1.93 a gallon on Sunday in Monroeville. Thx fuel perks. If only they gave them on beer purchases too, my gas would be free

Actually you paid more than the price listed on the pump / sign. Your fuel perks do not even come close to offsetting the higher prices of most everything at Giant Eagle.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Enough_Already

Actually you paid more than the price listed on the pump / sign. Your fuel perks do not even come close to offsetting the higher prices of most everything at Giant Eagle.

I noticed this. I just FINALLY signed up for an Advantage Card at Giant Eagle last weekend. It saved me a whopping $0.80 off $50 worth of my regular weekly groceries and netted me a $0.10/gallon savings on my gasoline. Instead of paying $3.13/gallon for nine gallons ($28.17) at the Squirrel Hill GetGo I paid $3.03/gallon ($27.27) for nine gallons, a total savings between fuel and groceries of $1.70. Meanwhile if I had just bought these regular grocery items at a Shop 'n Save, ALDI, Bottom Dollar Foods, dollar store, etc. I would have saved MORE than $1.70 just on the grocery items alone.

Anyone who thinks Giant Eagle is a "great deal" is a *******.

[Enough_Already]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I noticed this. I just FINALLY signed up for an Advantage Card at Giant Eagle last weekend. It saved me a whopping $0.80 off $50 worth of my regular weekly groceries and netted me a $0.10/gallon savings on my gasoline. Instead of paying $3.13/gallon for nine gallons ($28.17) at the Squirrel Hill GetGo I paid $3.03/gallon ($27.27) for nine gallons, a total savings between fuel and groceries of $1.70. Meanwhile if I had just bought these regular grocery items at a Shop 'n Save, ALDI, Bottom Dollar Foods, dollar store, etc. I would have saved MORE than $1.70 just on the grocery items alone.

Anyone who thinks Giant Eagle is a "great deal" is a *******.

It is possible you could have saved $1.70 on just one item at some other stores. Giant Eagle can be good for prescriptions, sale items, and a couple selected other items but in general they are much more expensive than other stores and the margin is much more than the 6% Fuel Perks savings (compared to stores without a fuel discount program like Aldi, Wal-Mart, etc.). Shop and Save also has a fuel discount program and their prices can be lower than Giant Eagle.

We have consumer reporters at most of our local television stations but they never report on this issue.

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by Enough_Already

Actually you paid more than the price listed on the pump / sign. Your fuel perks do not even come close to offsetting the higher prices of most everything at Giant Eagle.

Ok. I shall idulge in your advise. I'll make sure I drive several miles every time I want to buy a few groceries, find the nearest Wal Mart or Aldi or whatever, even if I just want some milk, so I can save a few cents, instead of walking a few minutes to Squirrel Hill Giant Eagle. You know it makes sense