Gas Price Rumor Causes Fueling Frenzy
Gas Price Rumor And TV5 Forum Reactions
You saw it here, you saw it on the streets, and you heard it on the radio. Hundreds of people packed the pumps, thinking gas was going to be hiked to over three dollars a gallon but it turned out to be untrue.
People are scratching their heads still wondering how this news got around. We sent Alix Hayes to investigate. At gas stations across Mid-Michigan things were back to normal Wednesday July 10th but the scene the day before, when word of mouth spread that gas prices were surging prompted panicked drivers to pack filling stations fearful their tanks would cost upwards of three dollars a gallon, at any moment.
It was big business for gas stations all over the area it all started when Murphy-Oil employees at a Midland Wal-Mart were testing a new digital gas-gauge sign. A TV5 viewer sent us the picture to the right, of the pumps that confirmed the price read gasoline for three dollars to three-dollars and twenty cents. It's now been fixed, but the rumors spread fast, prompting the Governor to remind the Department of Agriculture to investigate sudden gas gouging. TV5 received a number of calls of other gas stations taking advantage of the rumors, by spiking the price to more than three dollars, but by the time our cameras showed up, prices were high, but normal. If you want to complain about the gas prices call the state at: 1-800-mda-fuel.
http://www.wnem.com/Global/story.asp?S=3613528&nav=7k75cJft