The physical location of a gas station will determine how much is charged per gallon of gas.
A gas station owner will also bear the trucking expenses that delivered the fuel to the station. Some truckers are taking full advantage of the price increases in fuel and will charge the vendor twice the amount that would normally be charged. The rules of supply and demand are foremost on the truckers' minds, and they know that there will be another load of fuel waiting for them to deliver when they return to their point of origin.
It is very discouraging for consumers to find lower prices for gasoline just moments from where they recently filled their gas tanks on their automobiles. Some consumers feel cheated but the price that is displayed on marquees and the pumps is fair under law because the gas station is located in a rural area of the city but still bears a city zip code. The rural areas of the city will often have a gas station on every available corner because that rural location is charged less tax on the petroleum products they sell and can make a profit from every visitor.
The gas station owner that operates a gas station with a zip code that is a metropolitan city address will be charged more for the petrol that they sell. Consumers will also notice a slight increase in prices on everything that is inside their stores including the alcohol products that are automatically taxed by the city. The consumer might think that the station owner is trying to cheat them out of their hard earned money, when in fact, that vendor is simply trying to break even.
Consumers will know that they are protected from the unfair practices at the gas pump if a disaster such as a hurricane is expected. Government officials take full advantage of prosecuting price gougers to the fullest extent of the law and will often use those convictions as bragging points during the next round of elections in their fair city. The public is not fooled by this charade of fact and will often make certain that these city officials are not reelected for another term of office.
