Fri, Jul 25 2008
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Published May 12, 2008 11:53 pm - Businesses pay price at the pump By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer Even with gas prices hovering around $3.50 for a gallon of regular, Muskogee real estate agent Leslie Scott said she hasn’t noticed too much effect on how she does her work. “But I’m definitely noticing the prices at the pump,” she said. Scott, who works with Prudential Fuller Agency, said she drives about 100 to 200 miles a week for her job. She said she is able to deduct 40 cents a mile from her income taxes, though she wonders if the deduction is adequate. “It’s been awhile since it’s gone up,” she said. The Internal Revenue Service Web site says the standard mileage rate for personal vehicles was 48.5 cents per mile in 2007. One year ago, regular sold for $3.11 per gallon, according to the Web site Oklahomagasprices.com. While Scott hasn’t seen that much effect on her work, others see a big difference. Jessica Hooper, who contracts to deliver newspapers for the Muskogee Phoenix, said she and her husband have had to cut back on other expenses to afford to fill their gas tank. “Like food, things we took for granted,” she said. Hooper said she drives 77 miles a day delivering papers and fills her tank with gas twice a week. “My husband also has to pay a lot for fuel. He’s a diesel mechanic and he has to go to Tahlequah or Fort Gibson,” she said. Bob Loftis, owner of Loftis Furniture, said high gas prices may prompt him to rethink offering free deliveries. “We used to spend $1,000 a month for gas, now it’s $1,800 a month,” Loftis said. Slower business for several months this year has compounded the effect of the gas price hike, he said. “January, February and March, we did not do as well as the year before,” he said. “But we had a good turn-around in April, better than the year before. So right now, we’re probably equal to the year before.” Loftis said he hopes to see better sales in May, when people start spending their federal economic stimulus rebates of $600 per individual and $1,200 per couple. 
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