Sticker shock: Gas prices surpass summer of 2008 record

Specialists say the scenario is simply going to worsen.

On Thursday on the Gulf at twenty second and Spring Backyard streets, it was $4.59 a gallon. One buyer was shocked when $30 solely acquired him six gallons of fuel.

For essentially the most half, drivers say they’re spending roughly $20 greater than what they’re used to.

As a lot as they’d like to chop again on their driving, they can not as a result of it is necessary for his or her jobs.

“Fuel costs are very excessive, particularly with me, I drive round all day for work. So I am actually getting hit within the pocket,” mentioned Keta Ligon of West Philly.

In keeping with AAA, numbers are altering each day. Within the five-county Philadelphia space, costs are averaging $4.49 a gallon. That is up 4 cents in a single day and 57 cents up to now week.

There’s actually no approach to predict the very best day to refill your automotive. An enormous contributing issue is crude oil.

“Crude oil being as unstable as it’s. That’s the key driver that is pushing fuel costs proper now,” mentioned AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell.

If we check out the final time costs have been this excessive, it brings us again to the summer time of 2008.

“So it has been 14 years since we have seen fuel costs on the $4 per gallon degree right here on this space,” Tidwell mentioned.

The best our space noticed in 2008, in keeping with AAA, was a mean of $4.08.

Should you examine that worth with the price of inflation at this time, we would be paying $5.26.

Whereas we have not reached that but, we’re a few greenback shy of it.

These costs in 2008 solely lasted a number of weeks although. AAA says issues could be completely different this time round.

“We could also be $4 plus gasoline for longer than a number of week. It could be into a number of months as we knock on the door of the summer time driving season,” Tidwell defined.

Usually in the course of the winter months, demand for fuel drops. AAA says that did not occur this yr, which pushed costs up sooner than regular.

Tidwell says each penny counts and there are some methods it can save you.

AAA suggests drivers keep away from dashing, consolidate journeys and contemplate carpooling. You’ll find extra methods to save lots of right here.