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Katrina pushes gas prices past $3 a gallon in Connecticut.

Article Excerpt
Sep. 1--Gasoline prices roared past $3 a gallon in many parts of Connecticut on Wednesday as the ripple effects of Hurricane Katrina continued to drive energy costs higher nationwide.

The milestone raised fears about the possibility of a cutback in consumer spending, as rising energy prices soak up money that would be spent on other goods and services.

The price spikes, following recent boosts in the cost of crude oil, highlighted the impact of Katrina's devastating rain and wind on parts of the country far removed from where the hurricane hit.

At least eight U.S. oil refineries were closed because of damage from Katrina. The interruption led some to project that gasoline prices could rise to $3.75 a gallon, or higher.

The spike -- one Stamford station was selling gasoline for $3.43 a gallon Wednesday, up from $2.74 a day earlier -- had drivers thinking hard about how far they travel and how much they spend to do so.

Scott Plecity, who refills vending machines throughout Greater Hartford, watched the pump closely Wednesday as he filled his tank at a Manchester gas station, where the price for regular jumped from $2.70 to $3.10 overnight.

Plecity stopped abruptly at eight gallons, less than a quarter of the van's 35-gallon tank. He said he will continue making small fill-ups in the hope that gasoline prices will come down. He paid about $25.

"This is ridiculous," Plecity said. "To fill...