The coronavirus pandemic has caused gas prices to drop drastically across the country and Owensboro falls in line.
Mandated school closures, non-essential businesses being shut down and more people working from home because of COVID-19 means less traffic.
This drives down demand and increases supply resulting in cheap gasoline prices.
“Our business is down about 40 percent because people aren’t getting out or going anywhere — there’s nowhere for them to go,” said Lee Franey, owner of Franey’s Food Mart. “No restaurants, no gyms, nowhere to go. So people just aren’t burning as much gas.”
According to AAA gas prices, the national average Wednesday was $2.08.
Kentucky’s average was $1.78 and Daviess County was $1.48.
“Every day it’s getting worse,” Franey said. “All the convenience stores’ businesses are really down. “We’re still fortunate enough that we’re going to remain open no matter what because gasoline is a necessity.”
Franey, who opened his first store almost 32 years ago, said he has cut his store hours and labor in the meantime to alleviate the economic blow.
Franey’s Shell gas price Wednesday was $1.39 regular. It was about $2.19 a gallon just two weeks ago, he said.
“Our profits aren’t going to be nearly as good as they usually are but we’ll survive,” he said. “We may not make much money the next four to eight weeks but you know, we’re going survive. We’re not going out of business by any means.”
According to Google Maps and Gas Buddy, the cheapest gas price in town is the Marathon at 2300 Breckenridge St.
The highest recorded average in Owensboro was September 2008 at $4.02, according to AAA.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
