by John Keller | May 30, 2014 | Fuel Price Management Solutions, Fuel Pricing Software, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
May finished with a whimper as retail fuel margins dropped $0.023 per gallon according to the OPIS report released today. The average retail fuel margin across the US is now $0.165 per gallon, returning to the level last seen four weeks ago.
The year to date average is $0.162 while the Q2 average is $0.168 and the six week average is $0.185.
This equivalent week last year, retail fuel margins jumped $0.09 per gallon. With the drop this year and the increase last year, the current retail fuel margin now stands $0.053 per gallon below this time last year. That marks the first time since May 2 that retail fuel margins this year are below last year.
Now that the Memorial Day holiday is behind us, we settle into the strong and steady summer driving volumes. From a fuel price management perspective, that means careful monitoring of margins and using every trick of the trade to maximize and optimize so we can get the most of what this season has to offer. Often times that means making multiple price changes in a single day, especially when the store manager at the competitor across the street has gone home for the day and there is no one there to respond to your price changes. Thanks to the patented technology licensed exclusively to PriceAdvantage, rapid and frequent price changes are as easy as clicking a mouse and watching the magic happen.
by John Keller | May 23, 2014 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Technology, Industry News, PriceAdvantage
According to the OPIS report today, the average US retail fuel margin dropped $0.06 per gallon this week to $0.188 per gallon. The year to date average is $0.162 and the Q2 average is $0.169 per gallon. The six week average is $0.178.
Current levels remain above retail fuel margins of last year for the third straight week. Last year at this time the average retail fuel margin was $0.124 per gallon. That’s significant because this holiday weekend traditionally yields a strong bump in retail fuel volumes, and this year the number of Americans travelling 50 miles or more is expected to be 1.5% higher than in 2013.
That means c-stores have the opportunity to show robust fuel sales and profits this month, as long as they manage their retail fuel business wisely, carefully monitoring the competition, optimizing the balance between margin and volumes, and quickly executing the best pricing strategies to the street.
by John Keller | May 23, 2014 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management Solutions, Industry News
Greg Parker, CEO of PriceAdvantage customer Parker’s, presented some entrepreneurship tips when he gave the keynote speech at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards Luncheon yesterday.
According to Convenience Store Decisions, among his list of tips were two that directly related to PriceAdvantage fuel pricing software.
1) Create a Dashboard for Success. The Parker Cos. “worship data,” he explained. “We believe that success doesn’t just happen. When you make success measurable, you make it achievable.”
- PriceAdvantage provides Parker’s fuel analysts with SNAP Analytics that allows each store to be successful from both a fuel volume and margin perspective. PriceAdvantage is a critical part of enabling Parker’s to achieve their success.
2) Parker’s embraces technology. The company uses technology “to deliver the ultimate customer experience,” said Parker, and it is a critical tool to maximize sales and create a sense of community around the company’s brands.
- The Parker’s PriceAdvantage fuel pricing software solution includes a complete closed loop price changing process between PriceAdvantage, VeriFone Sapphire POS, Skyline electronic price signs, and GasBuddy OpenStore. Through this integrated process, every price change is automated and can be managed from headquarters, even to the point of seamlessly updating GasBuddy with the latest Parker’s pricing.
by John Keller | May 19, 2014 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Pricing Software, Industry News
According to AAA, the number of Memorial Day vacationers driving 50 miles or more this year will increase 1.5% over last year to the second highest level since 2000. The report defines the Memorial Day travel period as Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26.
“As the economy continues to improve at a slow and steady pace consumer spending, disposable income, consumer confidence and the employment outlook are trending up which is welcomed news for the travel industry,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA Chief Operating Officer.
There is a free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android where GPS navigation helps travelers map a route, find current gas prices and discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance. The gas prices displayed on the app are supplied by OPIS.
What does this mean from a fuel price management perspective? On a nationwide scale, fuel volumes should be higher than last year for the five day period of May 22 to May 26. If current retail fuel margin levels remain the same, the average retail fuel margin will be approximately $0.12 per gallon higher than last year over the Memorial Day weekend. That means we have the potential for significant profit improvements over last year for these five days.
It also means the savvy fuel retailer can make the most of this weekend by making sure the latest fuel prices are displayed on the gas price apps fed by OPIS and GasBuddy. PriceAdvantage customers such as Rutter’s and Parker’s will be using their integrations to make sure their prices are displayed prominently to the Memorial Day travelers.
by John Keller | May 16, 2014 | Customer News, Fuel Price Management, Fuel Software, Industry News
As reported by CSPnet.com, Flyers Energy made another acquisition, this time adding the commercial fueling, wholesale contracts and two convenience stores from Redding Oil Co., a fuel distributor based in northern California.
Flyers Energy is northern California’s largest fuel distributor, and continues to grow as it expands its operations throughout the Western United States.
Auburn, Calif.-based Flyers Energy franchises the Flyers fuel brand and distributes wholesale and branded retail fuel, commercial lubricants, renewable fuels and solar power in the United States. Flyers Energy is the largest member of Commercial Fueling Network and is also the marketer for more than 100 Chevron, Shell, Valero, and 76 branded stations. Flyers Energy offers commercial fueling at 230,000 retail gas stations nationwide with the Flyers Fleet Card.
Flyers Energy selected PriceAdvantage in 2012 to manage their fuel pricing process throughout their retail locations.
“PriceAdvantage allows us to automate our fuel pricing process while aligning our pricing strategy and improving communications across our network of sites,” said Tom DiMercurio, Director of Accounting at Flyers Energy. “Our goal is to leverage technology to reduce operating expenses and to provide a means of tracking the implementation of price changes through the whole process. PriceAdvantage is allowing us to accomplish both of these objectives.”
by John Keller | May 6, 2014 | Fuel Price Management, Fuel Software, Industry News, Retail Fuel Margins
According to an article in Convenience Store Decisions, for the first time since February, the average fuel price for regular gasoline across the US is expected to drop. The author of the article is Brian Milne, Energy Editor for Schneider Electric, and he attributes the prediction to sliding gasoline futures, a drop in secondary wholesale costs, refiners returning units to service after an extensive turnaround season, a higher run rate at U.S. refineries, a continued growth in domestic fuel supply amid the boom in shale oil, and new pipeline capacity to the Gulf Coast.
However, since the US Energy Department announced there will be federal regional gasoline reserves created near New York Harbor and in New England this year in response to the disruption caused by Superstorm Sandy, Mr. Milne wrote that gasoline prices will find “upside pricing support” this summer.
The full article can be found here.
What does it mean to fuel analysts if this prediction proves true? It means retail fuel relief for the first time since February, and an opportunity for fuel retailers to catch up on their retail fuel margins. It means fuels demand possibly beyond the typical seasonal increases we see each summer. And it means some reassurance that if we get hit with another superstorm this year, we’ll be able to make it through without the dramatic impact we saw with Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
