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Retail fuel margins drop again

OPIS reported that retail fuel margin averages across the US dropped again this week. The average US retail fuel margin stands at $0.112 per gallon, dropping $0.028 per gallon since last week. The combined decrease over the past two weeks is $0.109 per gallon.

The six week average is $0.167 per gallon, down $0.005 from last week. The equivalent day in 2013 had retail fuel margin averages at $0.126 per gallon. After retail fuel margins bounced along the floor in January and February, March 2013 brought some welcome relief, and by the end of 2013 Q1, retail fuel margins jumped to $0.212 per gallon. We can only hope we’ll see a rise like that again this year.

Parker’s wins Entrepreneurial Business of the Year

The Savannah Morning News awarded The Parker Companies “Entrepreneur of the Year”. The award is based on criteria such as growth and success, as well as philanthropy and community involvement.

Greg Parker, CEO of Parker’s Convenience Stores, attributed the company’s success on the idea that they worship data, and that they use technology in a way that other companies don’t.

A significant part of the data and technology that Mr. Parker is referring is the Parker’s PriceAdvantage implementation that includes PDI, VeriFone POS, GasBuddy OpenStore, and Skyline electronic price signs. “I’m looking for every single gallon of gas I can sell,” he said. “There is no way I’m going to let a competitor get up on me. We’re going to be the low price leader.”

Parker’s plans to open their 35th store next month, with 17 more stores in the pipeline.

The PriceAdvantage team would like to congratulate Parker’s on their ongoing success and rapidly accumulating list of awards. We look forward to our ongoing close relationship and our mutual success.

Congratulations to PriceAdvantage customer Flyers Energy on their expansion

The PriceAdvantage team would like to congratulate Flyers Energy LLC on their recent expansion. Flyers Energy acquired the assets of Allied Washoe Petroleum, based in Reno Nevada.

Flyers Energy has been a PriceAdvantage customer since 2012 as part of their retail fuel software solution that includes PDI and VeriFone as components of their closed loop fuel pricing strategies. Flyers Energy selected PriceAdvantage to improve pricing consistency, communication with stores, and automated price change confirmation.

“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.”

Retail fuel margins take a deep dive

The latest OPIS report shows that average retail fuel margins across the US took a big hit this week, dropping $0.081 per gallon to an average of $0.140 per gallon.

That is the lowest retail fuel margin since November 29. The year to date average for 2013 finishes at $0.190 per gallon. The Q4 average finishes at $0.200, and the six week average is $0.172. On this same week last year, the average was $0.132 per gallon.

Congratulations to PriceAdvantage customer Rutter’s for opening their 59th store

The PriceAdvantage team would like to congratulate Rutter’s for opening their 59th location. Rutter’s has been a long-time Skyline Products customer of both PriceAdvantage and Skyline electronic price signs.

Rutter’s started using PriceAdvantage as a pilot project in 2007, and seeing success there, they rolled out PriceAdvantage to all their stores in 2011. The Rutter’s implementation of PriceAdvantage is a complete closed loop fuel pricing software solution, including NCR Radiant POS systems, Skyline electronic gas price signs, and GasBuddy OpenStore.

Thank you Rutter’s for your great partnership, and congratulations to your successful launch of store #59.

 

Retail fuel margins rebound this week

OPIS reported that the average retail fuel margin across the US improved $0.03 per gallon this week. The national US average retail fuel margin now stands at $0.221 per gallon, the highest margin since November 15. The year to date average retail fuel margin is at $0.191 per gallon, the Q4 average is $0.205 per gallon, and the six week average is $0.186 per gallon.

The average retail fuel margin this week is slightly less than this time last year, when the average was $0.247. Last year the average retail fuel margin dropped $0.115 per gallon the week of December 28. Unless some unforeseen circumstances should occur, it’s unlikely we’ll see a drop like that again this year.