ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has released its annual online gas price kit (www.nacsonline.com/gaskit2010 ), designed to address common consumer questions about the U.S. petroleum market.

For each of the past nine years, the annual NACS Gas Price Kit has helped explain the complexities of the U.S. motor fuels market.

This year, there are two new elements that provide unique insight into the world of gasoline retailing: a searchable map that provides key state-by-state metrics related to motor fuels and video responses to consumers questions about the industry.

More than a dozen common consumer questions will ultimately be addressed via short videos by experts from NACS and the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) in the latest gas price kit, with new videos posted every week. The initial videos address questions related to ownership of gas stations, the cause of price fluctuations and retail expenses and profits.

The searchable map feature will allow users to examine critical market conditions related to their state.

“When events like hurricanes or refinery breakdowns occur in one region, there is a ripple effect throughout the rest of the country,” said NACS Vice President of Government Relations John Eichberger. “Where fuel is produced and how it is distributed has a significant influence on the price the consumer ultimately pays.”

Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS is the international association for convenience and petroleum retailing, representing more than 2,200 retail and 1,800 supplier member companies.

The U.S. convenience store industry, with nearly 145,000 stores across the country, posted $624 billion in total sales in 2008, of which $450 billion was motor fuels sales.