2 Georgia Gas Stations Engage in Price War, Prompting Police Intervention
Two gas stations in Georgia engaged in a price war, briefly lowering the cost of regular unleaded gasoline to 97 cents per gallon. Resulting traffic backups required police intervention.
A fierce price war between two neighboring gas stations in Powder Springs, Georgia, saw gasoline prices plummet to 97 cents per gallon on Monday, significantly below national averages. The Amoco and Sunoco stations located on Marietta Road repeatedly undercut each other throughout the day.
The competition began when the Amoco station, adhering to a policy of pricing its gasoline 5 cents below its nearest competitor, lowered its price. The Sunoco station matched the reduction, prompting Amoco to cut its price by another nickel. This cycle continued for hours, driving the price down dramatically.
The sharp price reductions attracted a large number of drivers, causing significant traffic congestion. The situation escalated to a point where local police intervention was necessary to manage the traffic and ensure public safety. This occurred while national gas prices were hovering near record highs.
At the time, Georgia's average gas price was approximately $3.80 per gallon, and the national average stood at $4.34, according to AAA. The unusual price battle offered consumers a brief period of exceptionally low prices before the stations eventually returned to standard pricing practices.