Gas price secrets revealed

A series by The Cincinnati Enquirer analyzed a daily price database of gas prices at 716 stations in the Greater Cincinnati region, including northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana, to better understand the many aspects of retail gas pricing. Rising gas prices and stiff competition are causing many major oil companies, like BP and Shell, to sell their retail stores and focus on drilling and refining operations. Depending on who owns a gas station - whether independently run or company-owned - gas prices can vary widely within a brand. The Enquirer's analysis showed BP had the widest variance with price differences averaging 38 cents between 107 of its stations.