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317 comments on DrumBeat: July 6, 2006

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RickD on July 6, 2006 - 10:43am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Question:  Since Walmart and Costco now sell gas at their stores, is the gas included in their "retail sales"?

If so, wouldn't the higher gas prices increase their retail sales?

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Leanan on July 6, 2006 - 10:46am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
That seems to have worked for CostCo.

However, it's becoming more and more difficult for independent retailers to get good prices on gasoline.  The gas stations that are connected with oil companies have a pricing advantage, and even large independents like Wal-Mart are hurting.

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yashko on July 6, 2006 - 12:09pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Interesting that same store sales are not keeping up with inflation, even after the added "juice" from the fueling stations. Even more interesting is that Wal-Mart same store sales track (at least by my recollection) the increase in non-salary wages. These increased much mre rapidly in the Clinton years, which accounts for most of Wal-Mart's growth.
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Darwinian on July 6, 2006 - 4:39pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I don't know about the rest of the nation, but in the Southeast, the gasoline concession at Wal Mart is contracted out to Murphy Oil Company. I don't know what the terms of the contract are, I am sure Wal Mart gets a share of the sales. But basically the company selling the gasoline is Murphy.
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317 comments on DrumBeat: July 6, 2006

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