P.M. BRIEFING : Ripoffs at Gas Pumps Alleged
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WASHINGTON — Motorists are losing more than $150 million a year at gas stations that sell low-octane gas at high-octane prices, and the federal government is doing little to stop it, a congressional report said today.
The General Accounting Office said a two-year study, which included random testing of retail gasoline in four states, showed widespread mislabeling of gasoline octane levels.
The GAO estimated that about 9% of gasoline sold nationwide is mislabeled. It said that more than half the samples taken last year in two large cities--Detroit and St. Louis--were found to have octane ratings an average of 2.2 or more points below what was posted on the pump.
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