Archive for March, 2008
March 20th, 2008
The minute we broke news that United Airlines was leaving Rockford, the moans started - ranging from “Why can’t Rockford keep airlines?” to “See, I told you!”
Admittedly, it’s been a bumpy rides. Since 2003, six airlines that have started service here have pulled out. But there are some key points of context:
1. The ones who have stayed - including Rockford’s largest, Allegiant Air - have packed planes. The number of nonstop destinations keep increasing and, if the airport isn’t at a record for destinations at one time, it will be in June.
2. Despite the ups and downs in airlines, passenger totals have steadily increased: 2,400 in 2002, 34,000 in 2003, 94,000 in 2004, 154,000 in 2005, 172,000 in 2006; and 215,000 in 2007. The airport set a single-month record last month and expects to do it again this month.
3. Cuts are happening everywhere! Delta and United announced this week they were cutting back across their systems and, a week after Skybus started service in Gary, Ind, it cut service in half. Airport officials say Frontier Airlines would love to serve Rockford, but is being conservative during this stormy weather.
Bottom line - Rockford’s situation is not out of line with other airports in the country that see service come and go. What is out of line, so far, is it continues to steadily increase despite those cuts.
March 17th, 2008
News for everyone who thinks we pay too much for gas in Rockford: We now have the lowest gas prices of any metro area in Illinois. I think this has happened one other time in my time here. Somehow, I don’t think this will stop the calls of “gouging” next time they spike up.
Here we go (data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com):
Gasoline: Rockford dropped almost a cent to $3.30 a gallon, which is still pretty high I’ll admit. But so is everyone else’s. The state average dropped about the same amount to $3.39 a gallon. Everyone in the state dropped today, except for East St. Louis, which passed us by increasing a cent to $3.31 a gallon. The national average dropped a fraction of a cent to $3.28 a gallon, so the record-setting pace has eased for a day. Illinois now has the 8th-highest gas prices in the country. Who knows what will happen next?
Diesel: Rockford backed away from its record high, dropping two cents to $4.03 a gallon. We have the ninth-highest diesel prices in Illinois. The state as whole rose more than three cents to an absurd and record $4.14 a gallon. Chicago is up to $4.23 a gallon, and every metro area in the state is averaging at least $4. The nation as a whole reached $4 a gallon on average for the first time ever, increasing a cent. Illinois is tied for 8th in the country in diesel prices.
March 13th, 2008
While the Rockford metro average is still under $4 for diesel, I’ve heard reports that some stations are already over that threshold. If there are any truckers, farmers or others out there affected by high diesel prices, let me know by commenting here or e-mailing tbona@rrstar.com. A colleague is working on a story about your pain.
We’ll flip things around today (data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com):
Diesel: Rockford increased more than a cent to $3.97 a gallon, which continues to be a record. We have the fourth-highest diesel prices in Illinois. The state as whole rose almost three cents and stands at about $4.01 a gallon. Chicago ($4.10) and Danville ($4.03) continue to set the pace, with Quad Cities a fraction of a cent shy of $4. The nation as a whole rose more than three cents to $3.91. Illinois has the 10th-highest diesel prices in the country.
Gasoline: Now don’t you feel better? See, it could be worse. Rockford increased just over a cent, to $3.29 a gallon. We’re actually falling behind the rest of Illinois: the state average increased more than five cents to $3.36 a gallon and we now have the second-lowest gas prices in Illinois. Several cities had double-digit gains, including Springfield, which rocketed up 13 cents to a state-leading $3.43 a gallon. That’s a record for the state capital, but Rockford is still almost 18 cents away from our record. The nation increased to a record $3.27 a gallon, up two cents. Illinois now has the 11th-highest gas prices in the country.
March 11th, 2008
Sorry to leave you musing-less yesterday, but I did manage to write about gas prices, just not here.
On to today (data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com):
Gasoline: Rockford increased almost a cent, to $3.27 a gallon, right smack dab at the Illinois average. Mostly minor ups and downs around the state, except for the Quad Cities, which rose almost three cents to an Illinois-leading $3.34 a gallon. The nation increased to almost $3.23 a gallon, tying a national record. Illinois metro areas remain well behind their record highs, but the question seems to be when - not if - those will be broken. Illinois now has the 12th-highest gas prices in the country, a far cry from Friday, when we were ranked 26th.
Diesel: Not only are we at a record high in diesel prices, but we’re flirting with $4 a gallon diesel prices. Rockford increased seven cents to $3.90 a gallon and, because the average is for the entire metro area, some stations could see $4 before the whole area gets there. The state average rose its record high a cent to $3.96 a gallon. Chicago ($4.04) and Danville ($4.02) are already in the anti-promised land. The nation as a whole is at a record $3.85, rising two cents. Illinois has the 10th-highest diesel prices in the country.
March 7th, 2008
Gas prices are about to resemble this, I fear
Here are the details (data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com):
Gasoline: Rockford increased a cent, to $3.14 a gallon, but the real story is that Illinois as a whole is starting the uptick I’ve been predicting. The state on average rose almost a cent to $3.16 a gallon, while every metro area saw a hike except for Danville (insert joke about Danville prices here). We remain third in the state. The national average rose less than a cent, but still remains above Illinois at $3.19. In fact, Illinois is 26th in the state in gas prices. That’s right, we’re in the bottom half. But retail prices are finally starting to follow crude oil in increasing, so let the rise begin.
Diesel: Yep, the good news here was fleeting. Rockford increased almost four cents to $3.80 a gallon (a new record!). The state average also hit a record, rising more than a cent to $3.84 a gallon, while most metro areas are at record highs. We’re now fifth in the state, with pacesetter Chicago increasing a cent to $3.94. The nation as a whole is at a record $3.74, rising three cents. Illinois still has the 12th-highest diesel prices in the country.
March 6th, 2008
By now, you’ve heard about record oil prices fueled by the falling dollar, declining supplies and OPEC’s decision to not increase production. And, like me, you’re waiting for gas prices to spike.
Well, they haven’t yet, at least not in Illinois. And while national averages have been rising, if you look at the chart on AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com, you’ll see the big spike in crude oil prices hasn’t been matched in wholesale or retail prices. And lately, crude prices have made up 68 percent of the price of gas. Expect to see increases here soon.
And now, more on today’s prices (data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com):
Gasoline: Rockford increased a tenth of a cent, holding at $3.13 a gallon. We’re still below the state average, which dropped almost a penny to $3.15 a gallon. For the second day in a row, we’re even below the national average, which increased almost a penny to $3.18 a gallon. We’re back up to to third in the state, as East Saint Louis fell two cents to $3.11. The Quad Cities remains the top in the state at $3.20
Diesel: Good (but temporarily?) news for diesel users. Rockford dropped three cents to $3.76 a gallon, even though Illinois and the nation went up. We dropped to seventh in the state, with the biggest drop of any metro area. The state average rose a penny to $3.83, while the national average rose a penny to $3.71. Chicago remains on top and increased 3 cents to $3.93, so the $4 watch is back on. Illinois has the 12th-highest diesel prices in the country.
March 5th, 2008
According to the Buffalo News, Kenny Tours still plans to fly from Rockford to Ireland this summer. Kenny Tours has postponed plans to fly between Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Ireland, though, because it could only get one plane to charter. Service between Columbus, Ohio, and Ireland and between Pittsburgh, Penn., and Ireland also appear delayed.
But a Kenny Tours spokesman told the Buffalo paper that they still plan to start seasonal service between Ireland and Rockford; Lansing, Mich.; and St. Louis. The spokesman hasn’t returned my calls in a while, but RFD officials say they’ve heard positive news recently.
I’ll let you know when I hear more.
March 5th, 2008
Remember last month, when RFD Executive Director Bob O’Brien was wooing airlines in Mexico?
So was Gary/Chicago International Airport.
“We met with several air carriers,” (Gary airport director Chris) Curry said, “and there was one in particular that indicated an interest in serving the Chicago market because of the huge Hispanic and Latino population that we have here.”
Curry wouldn’t name the airline, but he said it wants to avoid Chicago’s two major airports.
“It’s clearly a competition, I believe, between us and Rockford (International Airport),” Curry said.
Read more here.
March 5th, 2008
(data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com)
Gasoline: If I were the kind of person that bought my gas based on price fluctuations, I would fill up today. Rockford, along with most of Illinois, dropped today while the national average continued its uptick. The national average is now two cents above the Illinois average, which is very rare. Since Feb. 25, Rockford dropped more than 11 cents and Illinois dropped almost three cents, while the nation increased four cents. Typically, when the nation’s prices go up, so do ours. So something’s gonna change soon. We fell to fourth in the state, decreasing four cents to $3.13 a gallon. The Quad Cities remains the top in the state at $3.20
Diesel: I wish I had good news for truckers, bus drivers and other diesel users. But Rockford increased more than a penny to $3.79 a gallon, and is now fourth in the state. In this case, we’re mirroring national prices, which increased almost three cents today and about 25 cents since mid-February. The state average has stayed at $3.82 for a few days, but the general trend is also up. Chicago remains on top with $3.90. Danville has a relatively normal three-cent drop, so despite my wild predictions, it’s calmed down over there. Oh, and Illinois has the 10th-highest diesel prices in the country.
March 4th, 2008
(data courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com)
Gasoline: The big news for today is that the national average is higher than the Illinois average for the first time in, well, a while. The national average jumped only a fraction of a cent and is still at $3.17, while the state average dropped a cent to $3.16. Not only does Illinois now have only the 20th-highest gas prices in the country, but 18 states have higher average prices than Rockford. Can this trend hold? We remain third in the state, increasing a cent to $3.18 a gallon. The Quad Cities remains the top in the state at $3.21, while Chicago fell a cent to $3.19 a gallon.
Diesel: Rockford is back up to fifth in the state, increasing four cents to $3.78 a gallon. We’re four cents below the state average, which dropped less than a cent. Chicago returns to the top with $3.90, but had a slight decrease that may stall its journey to $4. Remember Danville? They continued their yo-yo trend, dropping eight cents to $3.82. I expect tomorrow’s Danville prices to be in Euros.While Illinois on a whole dropped slightly in diesel prices, the national average increased a penny to $3.68; Illinois has the 9th-highest diesel prices in the country.
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