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By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter 

The Cheney 'Gas War'

Opening of City Fuel heats up the competition, plummets prices in Cheney

 

Last updated 1/9/2015 at 4:06pm

Paul Delaney

J.T. Lidhar, new owner of the Exxon Food Mart on First Street in Cheney, one of five local outlets involved in an unofficial "Gas War," initiated by another newcomer, Suki Pooni of City Fuel. Lidhar, seen in a December 18 photo when regular gas was selling for $2.45 a gallon, has since seen his price at the pump fall to $2.15. He uses bargain gas to encourage customers to shop in his store.

Cheney residents got an unexpected Christmas gift this year.

Cheap gas.

In a throwback to the 1960s - except one needs to add about $2 to the price-per gallon - as gas stations in the city engaged in an old-fashioned "gas war."

These were popular marketing schemes perpetuated when one station operator on one corner would peel back prices. That forced his neighbor across the street to do the same. Prices would routinely hover between 25-30 cents a gallon, and sometimes even lower.

Reaching a peak price of $107 a barrel in June 2014, oil prices closed Jan. 5 at under $50 a barrel for the firs...



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