The average price of gas in the United States surpassed $5 a gallon over the weekend -a new record- and even reached more than $6 in California.
According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of gas was $5.014 on Monday. The high cost was felt across the country. Gasoline prices were above $5 a gallon in 21 states and Washington, D.C.
Prices were higher than last week, when fuel averaged $4.865 per gallon, and significantly higher than a year ago when a gallon cost $3.078. According to AAA, the price is an “all-time high” since the company began collecting price data in 2000.
“Based on the demand we’re seeing, it seems high prices have not really deterred drivers,” Andrew Gross, a AAA spokesperson, said in a statement. “If prices stay at or above $5, we may see people start to change their daily driving habits or lifestyle, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
West Virginia received the largest weekly increase at 28 cents, followed by Montana at 27 cents, Colorado at 25 cents, and Kansas at 23 cents.
California has the most expensive gas in the U.S. at an average of $6.43 per gallon, followed by Nevada at $5.65 per gallon, Alaska at $5.56 per gallon, and Illinois at $5.56 per gallon.
The high increase comes at a time when the price of a barrel of oil has risen above $120, nearly double the price in August. In addition, summer travel is on the rise, with large crowds expected over the July 4 weekend.
What you should do:
There are some steps travelers can take to save some money on oil prices. Try to:
- Be flexible when booking flights
- Expand your flight search to nearby airports
- Make sure your car is in top condition before heading out.
- Consider traveling by train