Lower prices fuel gasoline buying

People are excited about the lower gas prices in Southern Illinois, some have even chosen to purchase big.

Though fuel prices will continue to fluctuate, as they always have, people in Harrisburg are filling their tanks before prices decide to go back up again.

The drop in gas prices seems to be sparking an interest in bulk purchases. "It seems that people, who normally get $5 or $10, are buying more fuel," said Melody Long, a six-year CITGO employee on Commercial Street.

Being a farming community, many in the area have bulk tanks they use on farms or for their personal businesses. Fuel prices are now the lowest they have been since January, according to illinoisgasprices.com. In January, Illinois price average was just under $2 per gallon, spiking in August to almost $3.25 per gallon.

"I have been told by a customer that they are going to fill both their 500 gallon tanks today," said Trish Hall, who manages the Huck's store on Commercial Street. "We have defiantly seen a rise in business today, which I'm sure is due to the low price."

Other states also have seen a drop in prices. According to gasbuddy.com Missouri's and Tennessee's state average dropped below $2 right after Veterans Day. Indiana saw their fuel prices drop over the weekend. On average, Kentucky's prices didn't fall below $2 until Wednesday.

"I am very happy about the lower gas price," said Debbie Hall, a ROC customer at the station on Poplar Street. "It is way better than the $2.50 we have been paying."