'It keeps going up.' Drivers react as gas prices surge over 30 cents in last week
Gas prices on Long Island have surged more than 30 cents in a week, leaving drivers struggling to keep up as commuting costs continue to rise.
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Drivers across Long Island are feeling the pinch as gas prices continue to climb.
According to AAA, prices at the pump have jumped between 31 and 34 cents in just the past week, putting added pressure on commuters and families already dealing with higher everyday costs.
“They are too high. I think everyday it goes up. You can put gas in Monday and on Saturday the price is completely different,” said Karen Chavez.
That frustration is shared by many drivers across the region, especially those who rely on their cars daily.
“I commute over 50 miles a day and that is at least three to four gallons right there. It definitely adds up every single day,” said Nicholas Sideris.
AAA says the average price for a gallon of gas on Long Island is now $4.40, a sharp increase from $3.03 at this time last year.
“For me it's just 25 bucks every time and it gets me two or three days and then I go right back to the pump,” Sideris added.
Despite the rising costs, demand for gas is actually increasing. AAA reports gasoline demand reached 9.1 million barrels per day over the past week, about 50,000 more than this time last year.
Some drivers say they’re trying to cut back where they can.
“I need to use my car but I avoid going out a lot. I'm try to think about where I need to go, before I go out and make a route,” Chavez said.
Still, experts say there’s only so much people can do to reduce their driving.
“People don't have a huge amount of choice for how much they drive. Yes, you can tinker on the margins here or there, but if you have to commute, you have to make the commute. If you have a doctor’s appointment, you have to go to that doctor’s appointment,” said AAA Spokesperson Alec Slatky.
Slatky says global factors are also playing a role. About 20% of the world’s crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Until it fully reopens, he doesn’t expect prices to drop anytime soon.
