As the U.S. eases into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, more and more Americans are hitting the road and traveling as COVID-19 cases decline. In fact, AAA is forecasting that a record 43.6 million Americans will be driving somewhere for the holiday this weekend. Unfortunately for those folks, ever-increasing gas prices will make that trip more expensive than usual, with the national average recently hitting $3.09 per gallon and expected to reach as much as $3.14 this weekend.
“Today, 89 percent of U.S. gas stations are selling regular unleaded for $2.75 or more,” said AAA spokesperson Jeanette McGee. “That is a stark increase over last July 4 when only a quarter of stations were selling gas for more than $2.25. Road trippers will pay the most to fill up for the holiday since 2014.”
Higher gas prices around holidays are common, but 2021’s figures are blowing away every Fourth of July in recent history. According to AAA, this phenomenon is mostly being caused by a spike in global oil demand, easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions, and growing confidence in vaccinations. As a result, more and more people are traveling for leisure, which has driven the price of oil up to $74 per barrel – the highest in three years.
A number of other factors have caused spikes in prices through the first half of 2021. This includes the Colonial Pipeline hack back in May, which led to mass panic buying in the Southeast, as well as a lack of qualified tanker truck drivers stemming from the pandemic.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that relief is anywhere in sight. Crude oil prices are expected to continue to rise through the summer, with gas prices following in step. However, some states are still selling gas at an average below $3 per gallon, with the ten lowest being Mississippi ($2.73), Louisiana ($2.74), Texas ($2.77), Arkansas ($2.79), Alabama ($2.80), Oklahoma ($2.80), Missouri ($2.80), South Carolina ($2.81), Tennessee ($2.84) and Kentucky ($2.85).
We’ll have more on the state of gas prices soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
Thanks Obiden for the higher gas prices. All you that voted for this guy, thanks for the higher gas prices. And you get to share the pain. Reminds of Jim Carey in Liar, Liar, “I’m kicking my own A**.” Yes you are. I could go on but this is not the place to vent politics. Safe travels everyone.
(Replying to “Steve”) YES! Absolutely correct!
Really depends where you are. At the time of this post, just bought gas 15 minutes ago 10 cents per gallon cheaper than the last two times I filled up in the in the last 3 weeks. In fact, the price I paid was 3 cents per gallon cheaper than when I went to work this morning.
Irregardless of where you “are”; gas is still about a dollar MORE per gallon than it was last year.
And, it will continue to rise because your President and his band of fools are hell bent
on ending our current self-reliant petroleum-based transportation industry.
I wish we were paying $US3-4 per gallon(3.79 litres), in Melbourne Australia our current price is about $Aus1.75 per litre or about $US5.05 per gallon. For Australian this means a weekly fuel bill of about $US75; tradies can expect that to be at least twice that amount.
Dear Steve, maybe you look at the oil companies?
Oil companies do not control the price of oil. It is controlled by open market trading based on supply and demand. Oil exploration companies take it out of ground and sell to refiners at the market price. Don’t believe the crap that Schumer is always putting out.
That’s correct. Like in any market, price is driven by supply and demand. Obiden shut down supply (Keystone) and now the demand is focused on foreign entities. Less supply, more demand, equals higher prices. To be clear, I did not ever say the oil companies control the prices of oil, they control the supply of it. This was Obiden’s first objective, shut down our ability to be independent from foreign oil. He shut that down. He is the reason we are paying more than ever for gas. The beauty in all this is that these Obiden voters are paying the price too.
Steve, you’re right on; however, there is one more factor effecting the price at the pump: TAX. Joe and hunter want to raise the fed tax on gas, needless to say, in the woke states they’ll gouge some more! Most wokes have never met a tax they did not like, as long as they promise to do things with the revenue, such as, fix the failing schools in baltimore/chicago/ etc., and let’s not forget tax credits for those not working, almost never work, or refuse to work. Once again the American Tax Payer will be getting screwed….
You would think that they would lower the price of gasoline, with EVs coming they are pushing more and more people to buy EVs. I don’t understand there thinking.
Gary, you are 100% correct, it is the oil companies. FOREIGN oil companies.
for•eign
adj. Located away from one’s native country.
adj. Of, characteristic of, or from a place or country other than the one being considered.
Obiden has made a deal (promises) with these FOREIGN oil companies. Look at the time line. Keystone shut down, gas prices shoot up. Why? Where is the oil coming from? There’s your answer. Obiden is the reason why and I find the irony absolutely hilarious, these Obiden supporters are complaining about gas prices when they voted for it. WHAT??? That crazy talk, lol….Every time you look in the mirror, say these words… “I’m kicking my own a**”. Stay safe everyone.
Steve, get a grip man. You’re talking like a loon.
Bob, you sound just like everyone else that’s hates the idea of factual statements. Hey Bob, ever watch Liar, Liar….bet you have. Bob, tell me what part of I said makes me out to be a loon? Let’s see, was it the fact that the US is back to be reliant on foreign oil? Keystone was shut down? A lot of hard working folks lost their ability to provide for their families. Oh wait, that’s talking like a loon, again, sorry Bob, hate it when presenting facts makes me out to be a loon. Obiden supporters didn’t vote for this? Please help me figure out where I am talking like a loon, Bob. By the way, Bob, is that your name or what you do for a living? Just kidding , Bob. Stay safe, Bob.
What? Steve has not posted one iota of BS. You sound more like a woke idiot, if you’re going to attack someone’s factual statement, please back it up with verifiable Facts, not just what you think AOC would like you to say.
And when the Ford CEO was slobbering all over oBiden, that was my last straw with this company. I’ve put up spark plugs that blew out of the block, spark plugs that wouldn’t come out of block. Now with leaking antifreeze into the block, this lack of quality control has sent me elsewhere.
Let’s Not be energy independent, shut down the keystone pipeline, etc., plus lets eliminate 50,000 very well paid petro jobs, come on man, AOC is the greatest! By the way, lets eliminate our border, and flood the country with people, lots of people, it doesn’t matter what they are here for, or where they came from, the American Tax Payers will be happy to foot the bill. Thanks Joe.
I want to know and maybe our good friend here for Ford Authority could get us readers an answer. Since we are on the subject of alternative fuels. Why not Hydrogen? Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. It can be used in cars, in houses, for portable power, and in many more applications. I really don’t understand people orgasmic obsession with battery powered vehicles. You would drive your car no different than our current, and AWESOME, gas powered cars. Fills up in a few minutes, so not time wasted. Able to drive the same distances, no time lost. Already in use, so technology is already proven to work. Oh and get this you environMENTAL nut jobs, no additional waste in our garbage dumps. Where do you think your dead batteries end up?
I am all for Natural Gas. We have a proven 98 year reserve in the USA Now. There is more, but petro companies have stopped drilling and capping, due to cost benefit. Talk about clean burn, near zero emissions, Natural Gas delivers. There are 100,000s of miles of natural gas pipeline in the US Now. You can (in fact) put a NG pump from the pipeline going to your house (if you have one) and refuel in a couple of minutes. Honda was selling NG cars in the US, but demand has outstripped supply, or their willingness to produce. Ford makes Huge Numbers of NG trucks, yes sir, but they ship them to other countries. NG is cheap, burns clean, we have a ton of it Now, but Joe and Hunter have a different plan….it is not good…..