What Companies Are Actually Doing Well?

8 Comments

  1. Being in the remediation/waste management business that is directly related to petroleum marketers & wholesalers (about 50% of our revenue), I’d like to supply a brief insight on why both industry figures might not be what they seem.

    First, we had a 25% fuel surcharge tacked on top of our invoiced amount for several months last year. It is now down to 6-9%. Second, there was little argument over price until December of last year. Every bid is now being examined and getting squeezed, even from 15+ year customers. And this is in a relatively stable market (Charlotte and a 100 mile radius).

    For petroleum marketers and wholesalers, when you are selling a product that rose in price by over 200% at times, the 16% increase is actually a bad omen, unless if that is stated in raw gallonage. Figures for motor fuel consumption in 2008 in NC were 3+% lower than 2007, so I doubt that.

    The interesting commonality of these groups is that they are all in the “essential” commodity usiness and services to that trade. And it sure beats being a new car dealer.

Leave a Reply