Gas Prices Reach Continue to Break Records

By Matis Glenn

Gas prices continue to shatter records nationwide, as every one of the 50 states is experiencing never-before-seen price hikes. A gallon of gas costs New Yorkers about the same as a quick Uber ride, as New York and New Jersey have passed the threshold of $5 a gallon on average, for the first time ever. Across the 5 boroughs and Rockland County, average prices stand at $5.01. Ocean and Monmouth counties have also breached the $5 mark, reports the AAA.

On the bright side, a four-and-a-half hour trip from NYC to Hagerstown, Maryland, will grant sales of $4.79 a gallon, and for the extra frugal, a five hour trip to Morgan County, West Virginia will reward drivers with $4.77. Those are the closest areas with the lowest prices.

Georgia has some of the lowest prices in the nation, with some cities in the $4.25 range, according to Gas Buddy.

The increases in price are attributed to a global decrease in oil refining capacity, caused by pandemic related slowdowns, and rising demand ahead of the Summer. Over the past three years, the refining capacity of the U.S. has decreased by about 1 million barrels per day, according to ABC News.  The ongoing war in Ukraine has also exacerbated the surge in prices, as sanctions on Russia have limited the country’s ability to export oil.

mglenn@hamodia.com