Can Wisconsin gas stations raise their prices more than 5 cents a day? There's no law against it. - Post-Crescent

Reader question: Is there still a law in Wisconsin that states a gas station cannot raise the price of gasoline more than 5 cents per day?

Answer: I'm not aware of any such law to protect consumers, and neither was Nick Jarmusz, director of public affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

To the contrary, Wisconsin has a minimum markup law that requires gas stations to set their prices at least 9.18% over what they pay for it wholesale.

"This law dates back to 1939 and was intended to prevent larger chains and retailers from undercutting small, local stations by selling gas as a loss leader," Jarmusz said.

I also checked with the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association in Madison.

WPMCA President and CEO Matthew Hauser directed me to Wisconsin statute 100.18(8), which prohibits gas stations from changing their prices more than once during a 24-hour period.

The law also regulates how gas prices and gas taxes must be posted or displayed at the pump, but it doesn't govern how much a station can raise or lower the price of gas at any one time.

"There is no limit on the amount of any price decrease or increase," Hauser told me.

According to the AAA Gas Prices website, the average cost of regular gasoline in Wisconsin was $3.45 per gallon on March 3.

That compares with $3.20 per gallon a month ago and $2.63 per gallon a year ago.

In each case, the average price in Wisconsin was below the national average.

Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to [email protected] or call him at 920-993-7176.

source: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/local/2022/03/04/no-wisconsin-law-limiting-how-much-gas-stations-can-raise-prices/6982566001/

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