Gas station owners in many parts of the United States are buying fuel at some of the lowest prices they've seen in a year, yet many are padding their bottom lines rather than passing along all the savings to motorists, industry figures show.

Nationwide, the profit margin on a gallon of gasoline has widened since the start of the year and now is 20.7 cents a gallon - almost double the historical average - thanks to the growing spread between wholesale and retail prices.

Antonio Tobar of Takoma, Md., said he was happy to see that regular unleaded had fallen about a nickel this week to $2.33 a gallon at his local Shell station. But it hadn't occurred to him that the guy selling the gas was also benefiting.

"We have to pay what they say," said Tobar, a 48-year-old handyman who says he spends $40 to $100 a week to fuel his car and pickup. Still, he doesn't begrudge the owner of the station for pocketing a few extra pennies here and there because "he's not a rich guy."

Many gas stations have struggled in recent years, industry trade groups contend. Rising credit-card transaction fees chip away at profits per gallon, and competition has intensified as discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. increasingly sell cheap gasoline as a way to lure customers into their stores.

The past few weeks have been pretty good for the industry, though.

Gasoline futures have fallen 30 cents, or 17 percent, since Jan. 30, while average pump prices have declined 7 cents, or 3 percent, over the same period. Nationwide, the average retail cost of regular unleaded is $2.28 a gallon, according to the Department of Energy.

This week's average profit of 20.7 cents a gallon for retailers is up more than 11cents from a month ago, according to data from the Oil Price Information Service of Wall, N.J. And in some states, including New York, New Jersey and Vermont, profit margins are above 30cents a gallon.

Over the course of a year, retailers say their average profit is about 10 cents a gallon. While some states have laws preventing gas stations from selling fuel below cost - a measure intended to prevent predatory pricing - there are no state or federal regulations limiting how much retailers can charge.

"This industry more than any other is regulated by the customers and competition," said Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores in Alexandria, Va.

Several station owners say it's ironic that their most prosperous periods are not when pump prices are rising and accusations of gouging are flying. "As prices climb, we get kicked in the teeth," said Sonja Hubbard, chief executive of E-Z Mart Stores Inc., which owns 319gasoline stations across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. "I wish we could have more stable and lower prices."

Retailers said falling prices are beneficial because it leaves motorists with more money to spend on food and beverages, an increasingly important revenue stream.

Open Pantry Food Marts of Milwaukee, which sells gasoline at 34 locations in southeastern Wisconsin, gets about half of its profits from sales of burritos, gourmet coffee and more, according to James Fiene, the company's senior vice president. Five years ago, in-store sales made up less than a third of Open Pantry's profits.

Experts said retailers likely will enjoy above-average profits for a few more weeks, but that margins will erode as spring approaches. While gasoline supplies now are abundant, they are expected to tighten in March. Oil Price Information Service analyst Tom Kloza said he expects pump prices to rise 50 cents a gallon this spring, with the possibility of $3 a gallon in some regions this summer.

Refineries typically shut down equipment at the end of winter to perform routine maintenance, a period known as turnaround. But this year's turnaround will reduce gasoline production more than usual, analysts said, because many refiners deferred maintenance last fall to pump much-needed fuel after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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