THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, April 23, 1996                TAG: 9604230007
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A16  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   28 lines

SLAMMED AT THE PUMP

The recent increase in the price of automotive fuel of more than 20 percent since the first of the year is appalling. It's amazing that there's been no hue and cry from the public at this tremendous increase in our day-to-day driving expenses.

There is no direct correlation between the major fuel suppliers' expenses in the purchase, refining and distribution of this product and the price we pay at the pump. They will charge what the traffic will bear.

The majors will talk about supply and demand as factors, but there are no reasons to justify this large an increase other than a passive public's acceptance.

While our local gas-station owners/attendants receive our complaints, the excessive and unreasonable profits are not going into their pockets but into the coffers of the major suppliers.

JAMES B. MORIN

Virginia Beach, April 17, 1996 by CNB