Gas war breaks out in Stockbridge

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — Retailers in Henry County have spawned a gas war.

Consumer investigator Jim Strickland checked gas prices Monday morning on gasbuddy.com and found eight of the cheapest stations were in Stockbridge.

Even just off exit 224 on Interstate 75, a Murphy USA is charging $3.27.9 per gallon. Strickland watched as rival retailer QuikTrip lowered prices a penny to match.

"Can you feel it in your budget that prices are down?" Strickland asked driver Briana Delamarter.

"Oh yeah, I'm excited to pump gas," she replied. 

Retailers along a short stretch of Hudson Bridge Road are charging more than 20 cents below AAA's metro Atlanta average.

"I live in Fayetteville and it's about 15 to 20 cents more over there," said Diane Prible at QT.

The price went down one cent as she spoke with Strickland before she pumped.

"We have three vehicles and three drivers, so we're definitely feeling the difference of it," said Dan Shepard who was pumping at a Shell, which charged $3.28.9. "That $4 a gallon we couldn't stand."

QuikTrip calls Stockbridge a "highly competitive situation." In general, oil prices are down amid global fears about Europe.

"With the terrible state of the economy and the value of the Euro decreasing, the value of the dollar automatically goes up. Therefore, the value of crude goes down," explained Livia Whisenhunt, CEO of PS Energy Group, a fleet fuel supplier.

Oil is traded in dollars, so the stronger the dollar is, the fewer of them it takes to buy a barrel of oil.

Customers aren't so concerned with the reason for the drop as the result.

"It helps because I'm going into college, and with paying for college expenses and gas, it makes it a lot easier," said Alicia Chapman.

WSBTV