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The gas prices have been soaring in the US following a steady rise in oil prices. (Reuters Photo)
A manager at a gas station in the United States was fired after he accidentally set a lower gas price. John Szczecina had mistakenly listed the price at 69 cents, placing the decimal in the wrong spot when the price was supposed to be $6.99 a gallon, reported ABC News.
Mr Szczecina was working as the manager for a Shell gas station in Rancho Cordova, California, the outlet further said in the report.
“I put all three prices on there, except the diesel. The last one kind of didn’t go. So, I just took responsibility for it and said yeah, it’s my fault,” Szczecina said, ABC News Fresno station KFSN reported.
The pricing error cost the gas station $16,000 as drivers capitalised on the mistake and filled their tanks.
The gas prices have been soaring in the US following a steady rise in oil prices, which had plummeted in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as demand sagged, but have risen again as world economic activity resumes.
Oil prices soared further after Moscow invaded Ukraine in late February, and as international sanctions against Russia – a major petroleum producer – began to bite.
A year ago, the average price of gas in the US was just $3.07; since then it has shot up by more than 62 per cent.
Overall US energy prices in May were nearly 35 per cent higher compared to the same month in 2021, according to government data.
The US Federal Reserve is poised to raise borrowing costs Wednesday amid the troubling acceleration of inflation.
The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee is due to announce the rate decision at 1800 GMT (11.30pm IST) at the conclusion of two days of deliberations.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference after the meeting to provide more details on the central bank’s plans.
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