We have re-examined all known sources for reliable data for a state-by-state breakdown of the number of retail gasoline service stations in an attempt to respond to the request for same during SSDA's testimony before your Subcommittee on April 1, 1981. Reliable data is not available. The best data would be the U.S. Bureau of We see no reason why the special data developed by the State of Maryland as presented in testimony by Mr. Louis Goldstein, Maryland Comptroller, should not be accepted as valid and accurate. We likewise see no valid reason to question the long standing statistical expert Lundberg Reporting Service data as reliable. Attached for the record is the edition that told of the latest two year demise of dealers. Comparison of Maryland's data to the National Lundberg data provides the best known reliable assessment and clearly shows Maryland is in no worse condition than the Nation as a whole. More importantly, Maryland appears to have had no adverse affect on consumers from enactment of its divorcement law that prohibits refiners from employer-operated retail gasoline outlets. EXECUTIVE OFFICE 2021 K STREET, N.W. SUITE 303 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20008 202/293-6868 IN a little more than two years, 20% of the nation's gasoline stations have closed. Some regions were hit harder than others (see above). Stations with the capacity to move greater gasoline volumes and those that offer some types of mechanical services show better viability. Apparently the motorist needs both. Dan Lunding Pute the Tray Lundberg Assoc ate Poster Mark Emond Editor an-Cheel Contributing Edtors John Ayling Jan C Lundberg Lynn L Beavers Director of Research Chu Show Graphs Netta B Shelton Business Manager Craig P Hardin Production GASOLINE STATION ATTRITION CONTINUES PORTRAIT OF A SHRINKING POPULATION CONSIDER THE FATE of five average gasoline stations. If they were all in business in January 1979, the chances are that one of them is gone. In a little over two years, the population of open gasoline stations in the U.S. has fallen 20%. This is the main conclusion of two surveys of selected metropolitan-area gasoline stations: one survey of 15,000 stations conducted in January 1979, and the other a survey of 13,000 conducted in late February and early March 1981. (Stations closed for an extended period are dropped from the -- some From the standpoint of the motorist, the decline in the service station population means fewer neighborhood facilities offering mechanical and routine maintenance services for his car not to mention gasoline. So it's worth knowing where these stations are closing, and what kinds of stations are closing. Where It's Happening 1 The surveys show an average national decline of 20%, but that's an average over some quite different regional situations. The graph on page 1 shows how the estimated U.S. station population has declined, and how that decline has varied in different regions of the nation. Of the five PAD Districts, The greatest percentage 5 PAD Districts 2 % OUTLETS U.S. STATIONS BY MODE OF OPERATION, 1979-1981 J F M A M 1979 JASON DJ F M A M J J ASON D J F M 1980 1981 -- an In round numbers -- the only kind there is in studies of this sort estimated January 1979 U.S. population of 171,000 stations has become 137,000 today. That's a loss of 34,000 stations. Of these PAD 2 lost the most -- about 13,000 stations, followed by PAD 1 (East Coast) losing 10,000 stations, PAD 3 losing 6,000, PAD 5 losing 4,000, and PAD 4 losing 1,000. (The January 1979 population is an estimate from National Who's Missing What effect this has on the motorist depends partly on what kinds of stations are closing. The graphs on page 2 show how stations offering some selected services fared nationally and in each of the PAD Districts. This comparison is possible due to the existence of a system for profiling gasoline stations that is compatible with both people and computers. Both sample surveys used this ComprofTM system, so their profiles can be compared. Lundberg Letter Chart |