Last Updated on June 9, 2022 10:44 am
The national average price of gas in the U.S. surpassed $5 per gallon today for the first time ever, according to GasBuddy. Average gas prices nationwide are up 66 cents a gallon in the last month.
In Watauga County, the average price as of Thursday morning was $4.69 for regular, according to GasBuddy and AAA. The North Carolina average this morning was $4.65 for regular, that's compared to $4.63 yesterday, $4.39 a week ago, $4.10 a month ago and $2.88 a year ago, according to AAA.
“People are still fueling up, despite these high prices,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “At some point, drivers may change their daily driving habits or lifestyle due to these high prices, but we are not there yet.”
“It’s been one kink after another this year, and worst of all, demand doesn’t seem to be responding to the surge in gas prices, meaning there is a high probability that prices could go even higher in the weeks ahead,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “It’s a perfect storm of factors all aligning to create a rare environment of rapid price hikes. The situation could become even worse should there be any unexpected issues at the nation’s refineries or a major hurricane that impacts oil production or refineries this summer.”
7 cities in California now have gas prices that top $7 a gallon, according to De Haan.
