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EIA: high prices for gasoline will persist, even as demand weaken
Current record high prices for both crude oil and product are occurring despite weakness in U.S. demand, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported in its Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook.
The weakness in demand is expected to be a prominent feature of the summer driving season, defined as the period from April 1 to Sept. 30. (Full Story)
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Expert: Anti-crime ordinances should be based on proven methods
An ordinance designed to deter crime in and around convenience stores in Houston contains many sound elements, and avoids imposing measures that have been shown to be ineffective, forensic sociologist and consultant Rosemary Erickson, president of Athena Research Corp., told NPN MarketPulse in an interview.
"What's good about the Houston ordinance is that it includes only the validated measures that science has shown do decrease robbery and violence," said Erickson. (Full Story)
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Special Announcement
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Get The Data That Drives The Petroleum & Convenience Industry Today!
Order your copy of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts today for the introductory price of only $195 (plus shipping and handling).
To order your print copy and/or CD version of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts edition, please click here
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News Items
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EIA: gasoline prices set record highs again; diesel prices move up in West
For the second week in a row, the U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline moved higher, setting another all-time record of 333.2 cents per gallon, according to the April 9 issue of "This Week in Petroleum," published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Full Story)
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The Pantry expects to report a loss for its second quarter
The Pantry, Inc., Sanford, N.C., said April 9 that, based on preliminary results, it expects to report a loss for its second fiscal quarter ended March 27, 2008. (Full Story)
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Consultant: Casual dining chains could be victims of their own success
Casual dining chains face challenges that extend beyond the current economic climate, which has cut into consumers' discretionary spending, according to a study by foodservice consultants Technomic. (Full Story)
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Sinclair Oil chooses Envox interactive voice response for customer service
Envox Worldwide, a provider of IP-based voice solutions, announced that it has been selected by Sinclair Oil Corporation, an independent oil company with distribution throughout the plains and mountain states, to provide interactive voice response (IVR) capabilities for the company's customer service operations. (Full Story)
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Retailers report sluggish sales in March
Most retailers reported sluggish sales in March as consumers limited their shopping to food and other essentials, The Associated Press reported. (Full Story)
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In Florida, a battle over who should be eligible to operate turnpike plazas
The state agency that runs the Florida Turnpike is at odds with House Speaker Marco Rubio over the way contracts are awarded for providing food and gasoline at the turnpike's eight service plazas, according to an article by David Royse of The Associated Press. (Full Story)
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Chevron, Texaco credit cards feature added benefits
Chevron Corp., which sold its consumer credit card business last year, has had new benefits, including some roadside assistance, added for users of the cards, according to an April 7 article in East Bay Business Times. (Full Story)
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Starbucks launches 'Pike Place Roast,' a new brew
Starbucks launched Pike Place Roast on April 8, and said it also implemented new standards for freshness and sustainable coffee sourcing in all Starbucks company-operated stores. (Full Story)
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Shell offers 25-cent per gallon rebate on its gasoline card, until June 30
Between April 1 and June 30, customers who open a new Shell Gasoline Card account with Shell Oil Products US will be eligible to earn 25 cents per gallon rebate on the purchase of their first 100 gallons of Shell gasoline, according to an announcement posted on CNNMoney.com. (Full Story)
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Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores to use Retalix software
Retalix, a provider of software solutions for retailers and distributors, announced April 8 that Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores will deploy Retalix StorePoint point-of-sale (POS), Back Office with Foodservice and Commercial Fuel solutions in more than 200 travel centers and convenience stores across the U.S. (Full Story)
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Motiva-owned bulk gasoline facility fined for Clean Air violations
A gasoline bulk terminal will retire two vapor storage tanks and pay a $75,000 fine under the terms of a settlement with EPA for Clean Air violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. (Full Story)
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Ex-BP chief testifies about deadly refinery blast in Texas City in 2005
The former chief executive of British oil giant BP acknowledged that he ordered deep budget cuts at the company's U.S. refineries in the years before a March 2005 explosion killed 15 at its plant in Texas City, a lawyer said, according to an article by Kristen Hays in The Houston Chronicle. (Full Story)
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ConocoPhillips to pay $1.2 million in pollution case
ConocoPhillips has agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine to resolve civil allegations that its Borger refinery in the Texas Panhandle violated federal limits for wastewater discharge hundreds of times from 1999 through 2006, according to an April 7 article by Kristen Hays in The Houston Chronicle. (Full Story)
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Motiva sells 22 Shell stations in Connecticut
Motiva Enterprises LLC, the company that markets Shell-branded gasoline in the eastern and southern United States, announced April 7 that it has sold its interest in 22 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the Fairfield, Conn., area to Connecticut Dealer Stations, LLC and 372 Wilton Associates, LLC. (Full Story)
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Blackmer pumps designed to facilitate ethanol transloading
Blackmer, Grand Rapids, Mich., a manufacturer of positive displacement rotary vane technologies, said it has designed its GX and X Series sliding vane pumps to increase the overall efficiency of the ethanol transloading process. (Full Story)
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Fleet One announces new MAPCO partnership for fuel cards
Fleet One, LLC, a provider of fuel cards and fleet-related payment solutions to businesses and government agencies with vehicles, announced a new partnership with MAPCO Express, Inc., to upgrade its Fleet Advantage program to better serve its growing customer base. (Full Story)
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Sunday sales of beer, wine, allowed in Columbia, South Carolina
April 6 was the first Sunday that convenience stores, supermarkets and other retailers in Columbia, S.C., could sell beer and wine, according to an article by Devon Copeland in The State. Retailers must get approval to do so from the state's Department of Revenue, the article noted. The Pantry conveniences stores in Columbia have received such permission, according to the article. (Full Story)
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Product of the Week
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UL® Recognizes Cim-Tek® Ethanol-Blend Fuel Filters up to E85
Central Illinois Manufacturing Company's high bio-blended fuel filters (Bio-tek®) have officially been recognized by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL®) to handle Ethanol-blended gasoline up to and including 85 percent. This is a much awaited approval by Cim-Tek® and the entire petroleum industry. Now, fuel dispenser manufacturers will be able to complete their systems with UL® recognized fuel filters (Bio-tek®) designed for E85.
Cim-Tek
www.cim-tek.com
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Calendar of Events
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Atlantic Regional Energy Expo - AREE08
April 22-24
The Atlantic City Convention Center
Atlantic City, N.J.
(973) 467-1400
E-mail: info@areetradeshow.com
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NACStech 2008
May 5-7
Grapevine, TX
Gaylord Texan
(800) 966-6227
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NYACS Trade Show & Convention
May 14-15
The OnCenter
Syracuse, NY
(518) 432-1400
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SIGMA 2008 Spring Convention
May 18-20
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Two Grasslawn Ave.
Hilton Head Island, SC
(703) 709-7000
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NAOHSM's 55th Annual Convention & Trade Show
May 18-22
New Conn. Convention Center
Hartford, Conn.
www.naohsm.org
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For a complete list of industry events, go to NPN's calendar web page.
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Published By NPN Group | © 2008 NPN Group | All Rights Reserved
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For more information on NPN MarketPulse, contact:
Keith Reid, editor-in-chief
M2MEDIA360
NPN Group
Ph: 847-720-5615
Fax: 847-720-5601 |
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This newsletter is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual
property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast,
directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of M2MEDIA360.
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