JERICHO, N.Y. -- Getty Realty announced yesterday that on September 25 it acquired 36 Exxon-branded gas station and c-store properties located primarily in Prince George's County, Md., for $49 million in a sale/leaseback transaction with White Oak Petroleum.

The 36 properties were acquired in a simultaneous transaction among ExxonMobil, White Oak and Getty Realty, whereby White Oak acquired the properties from ExxonMobil and simultaneously completed a sale/leaseback of all 36 properties with Getty Realty.

CAMARILLO, Calif. -- High unemployment means fewer people driving cars, which in turn has led to what one petroleum expert has termed a fuel supply "glut" and continued dropping gasoline prices. The U.S. average regular grade retail gasoline price is $2.5225, down 6.86 cents per gallon since September 11. It is down 12 cents over seven weeks, according to the most recent Lundberg Survey of approximately 5,000 U.S. gas stations. The street has been quite precisely tracking crude's near-month futures prices.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- Kraft Foods Inc. is poised to launch a hostile bid for British candy maker Cadbury PLC, said the Associated Press, citing a report by The Observer. The report cited unnamed sources. Kraft earlier this month made a $16.7 billion stock-and-cash proposal that was rebuffed by the U.K. confectionary company. Cadbury has repeatedly said it is not interested in a takeover, but the U.S. food maker has said it remains focused on continuing negotiations.