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Fueled by new competition, retail gas prices in the Spokane area this summer are down and dropping.
The opening of 12 pumps at the North Spokane Costco two weeks ago may have sparked a price war that has spread through Spokane and toward the Idaho border.
The Inland Automobile Association's weekly survey of eight service stations around Spokane shows prices dropping in July. The average for unleaded regular gas this week is $1.20.2, some 2.2 cents lower than last week. Since June 25, prices have dropped 7.2 cents.
"Historically the trend is for prices to be up when demand is the greatest," said Ed Sharman, spokesman for IAA. "Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the prices are usually the highest of the year."
Costco, the Issaquah-based warehouse discount store, started selling gasoline this spring and now has pumps at eight stores in California, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. Its pumps in North Spokane, which opened July 18, are Costco's first in Washington. The...