Gas Prices, Retailers Battle for Price-Conscious Drivers

0:00It's April 24th. Welcome in. This is Durham News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Gas prices are bouncing around $4 per gallon right now, and retailers no drivers hunt for the best deal no matter what. The national average sits at $4.03, down 6 cents from last week, but up over 80 cents from a year ago. Stores like Costco, Sam's Club, and Kroger use cheap fuel to pull people inside for groceries and more. Tensions in the Middle East keep prices volatile, with crude oil dipping below $100 a barrel for some pump relief. Still, averages are the highest for this time of year since 2022. Drivers feel the pinch, and 35% head into the store after filling up. Costco and Sam's Club draw crowds with gas cheaper, by about 20 cents a gallon than local spots. Lines snake through parking lots as members drive extra miles for the savings, turning fuel stops into shopping trips that pay for memberships.

1:00Kroger plays it smarter, with over 1,700 stations next to its supermarkets. They skip the lowest upfront prices, and hand out fuel points for every dollar spent inside, redeemable for gas discounts. That loyalty program has tripled their stations in three years. Retailers keep battling for those price hunters, blending fuel perks, was stored traffic to build habits that stick, long after the pump.