Gas pump inaccuracies both help, hurt consumer

Associated Press - July 5, 2008 11:15 AM ET AUSTIN (AP) - Gas pump prices aren't always what they appear to be. Sometimes that helps consumers, and sometimes it hurts them. A total of 5,778 pumps inspected by the state last year gave the wrong amount of gasoline or had other problems. That's about 5% of the 109,369 pumps inspected, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle. Almost 28% of the problem pumps shorted customers beyond a small variance allowed by the state. On the flip side, 27% of the pumps gave more gasoline than they should have. That's according to data from Texas Department of Agriculture inspection reports. The percentage reflects only inspection categories that measure gas output, not other problems that can affect pump accuracy and also potentially short the customer. The... [read full story]