SAF Wednesday E-Brief - 06/13/2007  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
Headlines
•  Senate Drops Immigration Bill
•  USDA Reconsiders Horticulture Census
•  Gas Prices Fall for First Time Since January
Trends
•  Consumers Want to Save the Earth, Save Time, Splurge on Color
•  Organized Retail Crime Increases
Tips
•  June: Awash in Roses?
Life at Work
•  Workers Still Struggling with Work/Life Balance
Mark Your Calendar
•  PR Boot Camp Will Get You In Shape at SAF Palm Springs 2007
Regular Features
•  Watch Your Inbox
•  Product Spotlight: The Changing Floriculture Industry: A Statistical Overview, Fourth Edition
•  Talk on the Forums
•  Florists Stick with Same Father's Day Promotions
•  Father’s Day: A Steady Share

Gas Prices Fall for First Time Since January

Florists who have been sweating over the amount they shell out on gas for deliveries are finally experiencing (a little) relief.

The national average gas price has dropped 7 cents in the last three weeks -- the first decline since the start of 2007, according to a nationwide survey released Sunday (as reported by the Associated Press). Prices, however, are still up 93 cents from January.

The U.S. average for self-serve, regular grade gasoline was $3.11 as of last Wednesday, down from $3.18 in the last national survey May 18, said oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg to the AP. The average gas price for last summer was $2.84, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The drop is due to a boost in imports of gasoline from foreign producers, lured by record-high prices. Lundberg told the AP that the previous rise in price was caused by refineries experiencing setbacks, such as mechanical failures, and scheduled upgrades. Because of this, they were not able to produce gasoline fast enough to meet consumer demand.

Read about how florists dealt with high gas prices for Mother's Day deliveries. Find the lowest gas prices in your area.

--Vanessa Machir
vmachir@safnow.org