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A day before the so called “National Gas Boycott,” the national average gas price has jumped to $3.11, tying the record set in September 2005 shortly after Hurricane Katrina damaged oil refineries in the Gulf Coast area.
Since the first of the year, gas prices have risen nearly 35%, and are up nearly 45% since the end of January when prices hit a low of $2.14 per gallon. Even in just the past month prices have shot up a whopping 8%.
Currently, the national average gas price is over 6% higher than where it was at the same point last year. If this trend were to continue, it would mean the national average gas price should top out at about $3.30 this summer. Unfortunately, it appears that prices that low appear to be a long shot.
As of Monday evening, there are now 31 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that are reporting average gas prices above $3 per gallon. The state with the lowest average gas price is South Carolina at $2.83, and the state with the highest average gas price is California (again) at $3.45.
It will be interesting to see what effect, if any, the gas boycott will have on gas prices. While many people are hopefully that the boycott will cause prices to fall, it seems that most people I have spoken with are a little more realistic and expect nothing to come of the boycott.
And even if gas prices were to fall slightly due to the boycott, the effects will certainly be very short-term. While it certainly isn’t a very popular stance to take, I believe that we aren’t very likely to see the national average gas price slip below $3 until will into the winter months – if ever.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I donated my vehicle to the boys and girls club of denver for gas protest day. I was going to donate it sooner or later but thought this would be a good day for it.
A study has been released in Canada, and we are being ripped off by about 15 – 25 cents a litre. Than what the gas is uppose to be, when asked by the oil companies like Esso/ Exxon they said “Hey, its a free market” “we can sell it at any cost we want”
Seriously, that’s 0.60€ / litre. You’RE gettin upset about THAT? I mean, wtf, imagine driving to the gas station and seeing 7.20$/gallon for premium on the board. Unimaginable? Well, sorry, but that’s the prices, Europeans pay every day. And it doesn’t take the fun out of driving
How we survive that? Well, I guess, not everybody over here drives his own personal tank (respective 2 ton SUV with 12cylinder engine). Personally, I’m driving a little Nissan 100NX GTi, which gets about 22mpg, tops at 145mph (which I CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE FOR LONG PERIODS ON THE AUTOBAHN), is fun to drive on curvy mountain roads and still doesn’t force me into poverty.
Maybe the problem isn’t the gas price. Maybe it’s just the freaking amount some ppl consume.
Theres a reason for gas prices being high….we’re running out. In fact it should be higher to get it through peoples heads that we need to find an alternate energy source.
A Crude Awakening….go watch it.
Josh you are a retard…. you peak oil fanatics scare me.
SOOOOO funny when gas prices go up, here where i live we pay $7,25. So what are u complaining about?
7.20? That’s just stupid! Find another alternate energy source? We found it, hydrogen, too bad our government run by oil mongrels wont allow it to happen idiot, where have you been?
Free country. Let them raise. Start car pooling, or using public transportation. Get a small hybrid car. And we can get alternative energy. It just has to be done by a private lab.
to most americans, $3+ is A LOT. especially when the minimum wage is $6.15. I’m currently making $6.50/hr and living in a $435/mo apartment. It doesn’t help that it takes $30 to fill my car up when 2 years ago, my parents would hand me $20 and it’d fill my car up.
Another thing, most Europeans make more than americans do (atleast, that’s what it seems). So quit comparing us to you.
@katie
Actually the US GDP is a lot higher than Europe’s.
Interesting points everyone. While visiting in OH, I see Amish everywhere and even a non-Amish guy clipping down the road on his horse. There are many folks out there willing to do something, no thanks to those who drive gas-sucking suv’s and trucks. And yes, we are living in a country run by oil-mongers who are holding back progress on alternative fuels/vehicles. Until then, I’ll tip my hat (or visor) to the dude in OH on horseback and keep my motorcycle running. Let’s all do something instead of bitch. Okay? Peace 2 u all.
The reason the gas in Europe is $7.50 a gallon is because your government taxes the hell out of it.
Lukesed, the GDP is not a measurement of an average person’s financial status, rather the status of the economy as a whole. The per capita GDP would be a better figure to use, but in the US, where most of the wealth is distributed amongst a significantly small portion of the population, that, too, is meaningless. For the record, there are more than just a few people who live on minimum wage (and not by choice), and for them, $3.50/gal for gas is an awful lot of money.
In 1980 gas was $1.50 a gallon and min wage was $2.30/hr — which I made at the time. Just a point for comparison. It’s getting close, but still not as bad as then. Yes, it sucked hard. I took the bus whenever possible back then.
weave, good point, but also consider that more people commute to work now. And not by choice either. Sometimes it’s simply not possible to find affordable housing near your place of work. And some towns don’t have effective public transportation either.
I agree that a gas boycott will not work. However, I do feel that we should NOT buy anything else the gas stations have to offer!! Most of the gas stations today offer many many nonfuel products–snacks, papers, drinks..so on. I say..STOP buying these things at the gas stations!!! Buy as little gas as possible and stay away from that coffee and donuts they offer
Damn, that gas is dirt cheap!