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PRIMING THE PUMP.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Gas prices in the Eugene-Springfield area topped $4 a gallon for most of the summer. Now, just a few months later, prices are less than half that.

But local businesses say that, unlike the average motorist, they haven't seen much benefit from lower prices at the pump. They're still stuck paying fuel surcharges for freight, several business people said. Plus, their other costs of doing business continue to climb, and business, in general, is slowing because the economy is mired in what many are now calling a recession - all of which outweighs any benefits from lower fuel prices.

Besides, it's only a matter of time before gas prices start creeping back up, several business managers said.

It's hard to predict where gas prices will head long-term, said Marie Dodds, spokeswoman for AAA of Oregon and Idaho.

The federal government recently issued an estimate that the average price for regular gas next year would be $2.37 a gallon, she said.

"Lower fuel prices will probably be the...

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