(Ankeny, IA) — The Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store chain reported net income was up 66 percent in the third quarter compared to last year as gasoline and in-store sales were both up. Gas prices in Iowa have increased by 46 cents a gallon in the last week — but Casey’s C-E-O Darren Rebelez says sales haven’t dropped off. He says consumer behavior tends to lean towards aggressive buying because people are afraid gas is going to be 20 cents more a gallon tomorrow than it is today. Rebelez added that Midwest gas prices tend to be lower than the northeast and west coast, in part because a lot of ethanol is blended with gas, and ethanol is trading about 70 to 80 cents below gas.
