Associated Press
 
September 23, 2008
 
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Southeast is still facing gasoline supply shortages caused by storm-related refinery shutdowns on the Gulf Coast.
 
Drivers watching their gauges are have been finding shuttered stations and dry pumps. Ahmard Hall, a fullback with the Tennessee Titans, calls it "really ridiculous."
 
Hurricane Ike shut down or reduced work at more than a dozen refineries in coastal Texas, an area that accounts for about 20 percent of the nation's gas and diesel production. And the supply situation won't improve until the refineries boot back up and start filling the empty pipelines.
 
In the meantime, gas station owners are selling whatever shows up from their suppliers -- be it regular, premium or super unleaded. A Raleigh, North Carolina-based gas station operator says "You take what you can get."
 
Oregonians, however, may be feeling a little less pain at the pump.
 
A report released by AAA Tuesday says that the average price of regular unleaded gas in the state has dropped eight cents in the last week to $3.64 per gallon.
 
The report says Portland and Eugene-Springfield have the state's lowest prices, about $3.59 per gallon.
 
Prices in the Medford-Ashland area are state's highest, an average $3.73 per gallon.
 
AAA spokeswoman Marie Dodds says pump prices may continue to fall since the summer driving season has ended and the hurricane season is nearly over.
 
But she also says the weakened U.S. dollar could send prices back up in the coming weeks.