Gas stations packed

Hoosiers packed into gas stations Tuesday in response to a rumor that the catastrophic terrorist attacks would result in huge hikes in fuel prices.\nBut with marked price hikes reported at some stations, it isn't just rumor.\n"We are at the mercy of international markets," said Greg Seiter, AAA media relations manager. "Any major event or international occurrence will affect the gas prices in some way." \nPrice swings were far greater in some pockets of the state. In the northeast Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, a Citgo Quik Mart offered regular unleaded for $4.79 a gallon and still sold off all its supply late in the afternoon, The Daily Ledger of Fishers reported. The price in the morning had been $1.69.\nIn Terre Haute, a Marathon station was selling regular unleaded for $3.40 a gallon after starting the day at $1.41 a gallon.\nMany Hoosiers have responded by stockpiling gasoline.\n"Cars are lined up in the street to load up on gas," said Gayla Armstrong, head cashier at Walkers Amoco in Bloomington. "A woman from Martinsville told me the prices were $4.50 a gallon."\nWhile these rumors of soaring gas prices circulated Tuesday, local dealers struggled to service the mass of cars that flooded local service stations in anticipation of the price increase. Traffic backed up and cars remained in the road hoping for a chance to fill up on gasoline. \nWith the overflow of customers, local dealers showed concern about the steady decrease in gasoline inventory. \n"Since the gas prices have been low, inventory has run down," Amoco dealer Jack Walker said, "We'll be out of gas soon."\nBecause of the volatile nature of the gas market it is impossible to predict with any certainty whether the gas prices will indeed skyrocket to the rumored $5 to $7 a gallon and, if so, how long it would last.\n"It's too soon to tell what kind of an effect will take place," said John Felmy, the chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute. "While refineries across the country are running tight, we still have adequate supplies from both U.S. and foreign sources."\nMary Dieter, press secretary to Gov. Frank O'Bannon, said the governor wanted people to avoid panic and come together.\n"The Department of Revenue has alerted retailers that if there is any evidence of price gouging going on, it can do audits," Dieter said.\nAttorney General Steve Carter also appealed to gas station operators not to exploit the situation.\n"I have the authority and will critically review any and all complaints of improper, and quite frankly, unbelievable behavior by anyone taking advantage of this terrible situation for economic gain by collusion or price fixing," Carter said in the statement.\nMike Pitts, executive director of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers Association in Indianapolis, said price increases Tuesday of a dime or so per gallon were justified, given already tight fuel supplies in the Midwest due to a recent refinery fire in Illinois.\nShort-term supplies could remain tight because some supply terminals were shut down for the day as a precaution because of Tuesday's attacks, Pitts said.\nBut there's nothing in the short term to indicate an imminent upward price swing, he said.\n"This whole episode has had, and will have, some impact on prices in an upward fashion," he said. "But there is no reason I can see for all the panic we are seeing out there."\nThe Associated Press contributed to this report.