Gasoline prices in Savannah hold steady
Average retail gasoline prices in Savannah have not moved in the past week, averaging $3.33 gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 262 gas outlets in Savannah. The national average has increased 3.2 cents a gallon in the last week to $3.44, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Prices Sunday were 36.0 cents a gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 10.1 cents a gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 17.6 cents a gallon during the last month and stands 26.7 cents lower than a year ago.
“We fully expect that as refineries get into the prime of maintenance season, gasoline prices nationwide will continue to rise, and perhaps at the fastest rate we could see in 2014,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski.
Publix sales up in 4th quarter
LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix announced Monday its sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 were $7.4 billion, a 5.3 percent increase from last year’s $7.0 billion. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 increased 4.3 percent.
Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2013 were $422.0 million, compared to $392.8 million in 2012, an increase of 7.4 percent. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to $0.54 for 2013, up from $0.50 per share in 2012.
Publix’s sales for the fiscal year ended Dec. 28 were $28.9 billion, a 5.2 percent increase from last year’s $27.5 billion. Comparable-store sales for 2013 increased 3.6 percent.
Net earnings for 2013 were $1.7 billion, a 6.6 percent increase from last year’s $1.6 billion. Earnings per share increased to $2.12 for 2013, up from $1.98 per share in 2012.
As of the end of 2013 Publix operated 759 stores in Florida, 181 in Georgia, 55 in Alabama, 48 in South Carolina and 36 in Tennessee. The company will expand into North Carolina this year.
Free college planning family forum scheduled Thursday
To help Savannah area parents and students learn about their options and plan for their future, the College Savings Foundation and the Path2College 529 Plan will present a free family forum — “What Every Parent Should Know About Planning and Paying for College” — Thursday at the Mansion on Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton St.
The forum from 5:30-7 p.m. will feature Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan, and national experts John Hupalo of Invite Education and Martha Savery of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority.
To register, go to www.collegesavingsfoundation.org and sign up under “Free Community Event.”
For more information, contact Kathy Hamor at the College Savings Foundation at 703-351-5091.