Heading to the beach

If it’s a question of “either” or “and,” Southeast Texans are favoring their home turf during this gas price pinch, Anne Willis, owner of Swedes Real Estate in the Crystal Beach area, said. They are picking one trip and not several.

“I don’t think it’s going to hurt us at all. What I find is that people are telling me they aren’t going to Disney and the beach. I already know our rentals are way up for the spring and the summer is going to be busy, too,” Willis said. “At spring break and Easter we had the biggest crowds we ever had at the beach.”

Willis is also president of the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She said she’s heard positive business comments from other retailers serving tourists through restaurants and souvenirs.

“It helps everyone,” she said.

How high is it?

Associated Press reports gas prices are nearly 68 cents higher than a year ago, and many forecasters believe they could spike as high as $4 a gallon nationally over the next couple of months. Prices are already above $4 a gallon in parts of the country, including California, where the state average reached nearly $3.87 a gallon Wednesday.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.