Question: Why is gas in the Brunswick area at least 10 cents per gallon more than, for example, Damariscotta to the north or Kennebunk to the south? Although one might occasionally find a price equal to Brunswick’s, this is uncommon, and our area always seems to lead the way in Maine. Why?
Dennis Wilkins, Bailey Island
Answer: According to fuel price tracker GasBuddy, Brunswick and neighboring Sagadahoc County do indeed have some of the highest gas prices in the state.
Brunswick prices for regular unleaded gasoline ranged from $3.04 to $3.19 on May 19, according to GasBuddy. In comparison, prices ranged from $2.73 to $2.89 in Portland, $2.87 to $3.05 in Kennebunk, and $2.94 to $3.09 in Lincoln County.
The lowest price in the state was $2.69, at Irving stations in Dexter and Pittsfield, according to GasBuddy. The highest average price by county was $3.11, in Sagadahoc County, compared with $3.02 in Cumberland County and $3.03 in Lincoln County. The average statewide price in Maine was also $3.03.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said a complex interplay of factors can cause gas prices to be perennially higher in some areas than others.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy, direct, simple answer,” De Haan said in an interview. “There’s a lot of complexity when it comes to pricing.”
Some of the biggest factors include geographic income disparities, traffic volume, and the presence of lower-priced competition, he said. For example, Portland-area prices are likely influenced by the presence of members-only stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale, which typically offer the lowest gas prices in their area.
A seller’s business costs typically have less influence on the gas prices they charge, De Haan said. However, larger corporate retailers often have lower prices than mom-and-pop stations because they are able to capitalize on economies of scale.
That’s not always the case. For example, on May 21, the independently owned Uncle Pete’s Community Market in Harpswell was selling regular gas for $3.09, whereas the Cumberland Farms near Cook’s Corner in Brunswick was charging $3.14.
Overall, De Haan said the higher prices in Brunswick are likely the result of a combination of factors. “There’s no golden rule when it comes to setting gas prices,” he said.
J. Craig Anderson, Reporter, Harpswell Anchor
Send “Ask the Anchor” questions to joliver@harpswellanchor.org.
