By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Gasoline prices in spot market trading following the Memorial Day weekend were moving higher alongside an advance by gasoline futures known as the Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending contract that trades on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Trading has been relatively thin so far in post-holiday [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Wholesale gasoline costs were mixed in metropolitan markets across the U.S during the final week of April, but retail gasoline prices should continue moving lower in early May. At $3.87 gallon on April 23, the Energy Information Administration’s US average for retail gasoline prices was at [...]
Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Wholesale gasoline prices moved sharply lower during the third week of April, coming under heavy selling pressure as those in the market not hedging liquidated long holdings on growing sentiment that there will be enough supply this summer to avoid a tight market. There were a handful [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) U.S. average price for regular grade gasoline spiked to a $3.721 gallon 8-1/2 month high on Feb. 27, and is poised for a further advance despite mixed wholesale costs in early March. Retail prices have never been this high this early [...]
The U.S. retail price average for regular grade gasoline reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reached a five-week high at $3.299 gallon in beginning 2012, and is set to notch its third straight weekly increase amid higher wholesale costs. Several factors continue to drive gasoline prices higher despite ongoing weak demand, with preliminary EIA [...]
For the week through Dec. 5 U.S. wholesale gasoline costs mostly increased, while activity in the European Union coupled with heightened rhetoric from Iran are seen pushing gasoline prices even higher. Additionally, Sunoco Inc. announced Dec. 1 that it was beginning to idle the main process units at it Marcus Hook refinery near Philadelphia, Pa., [...]
After popping higher by a little more than a penny during the week-ended Nov. 14, the U.S. average for gasoline sold across the country’s retail outlets should resume its downtrend. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases its weekly gasoline average late afternoon on Mondays, with the average last reported 1.2 cents higher at $3.436 gallon [...]
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor for Telvent DTN Still feeling the impact from last month’s Hurricane Irene, wholesale gasoline costs in most metropolitan markets across the United States moved higher Labor Day, the celebrated end to the summer driving season. Irene made a rare appearance by a hurricane in the Northeast, impacting the [...]
How versed are you on current labor laws regarding union organizing? Do you know about the rules changes in regulations occurring within the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Department of Labor? Do you have a strategy plan for maintaining positive employee relations and effective union organizing strategies and tactics? If not, plan on [...]
As the economy slowing recovers, customers are still adapting. With that in mind, Mintel has predicted nine key consumer trends for the year ahead, examining how long term behavior has been implicated. In 2011, consumers are living for the long term with attitudes inspired by a changed value set. “The effects of the global economic [...]
Social networks like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have put the power of the media in the hands of the average citizen. Entrepreneurs, information marketers, and college students have learned that they can be the media for audiences both large and small. They have also learned that the nightly news and the traditional print media will [...]
It is no secret that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits relatively few tax returns. In fact, each year the IRS publishes the figures. The IRS’s own data reveals that slightly more than 1% of all tax returns filed were audited. The audit figures for the almost 10 million business returns filed in fiscal 2009, [...]
Energy reduction remains an ongoing quest for convenience store operators as they look for ways to cut costs in an effort to improve their bottom lines. Building stores to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and seeking LEED certification is something more chains are pursuing, including Kum & Go, Kwik Trip and Quick [...]
Increasing profits at the car wash depends on two tasks: drawing new customers and tempting current customers to increase the frequency of their visits. Determining which tactics will best accomplish these feats is where it gets complicated. Tactics that are working for many in the industry include touting loyalty programs, embarking on water-saving initiatives, participating [...]
Winning Over CPG Customers According to a new study commissioned by MEI Computer Technology Group Inc., there is an increased emphasis on improving trade promotion effectiveness, as consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers look to bolster the value and return on their trade spend, and capture wallet share from consumers. Despite the current climate, [...]