Pain At The Pump: Gas Prices Continue To Rise Across Tri-State
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Drivers across the Tri-State Area continue to wince at prices at the pump.
As of Monday, the statewide average in New York, according to AAA, was $3.93 a gallon for regular unleaded. In Connecticut, prices rose by a penny to $3.94. In New Jersey, prices were comparatively cheap at an average of $3.58 per gallon.
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The biggest hike came from one station in the Big Apple that increased prices by 10 cents overnight.
"Oh my God, in my lifetime, I remember when I was a kid it was 23 cents a gallon," lamented driver Helen Lopez.
In just the past few weeks, gas prices have shot up by 12 cents a gallon in New Jersey. At one Exxon station in Clark, drivers are paying $3.69 a gallon of regular.
"It's very annoying. I travel 28 miles back and forth so I am going to suffer this summer this fall," Ginger Reilly of Middlesex told CBS 2's Christine Sloan.
Nicole Moorer of Suffern spent $75 filling up her Mercedes at one of the most expensive gas stations in our area, the Citgo on the Hutch in the Bronx.
"It's on the route going to work. It's convenient. Got to pay a little more for convenience," she said.
At $4.29 for regular, the Hutch Citgo is above the statewide average for New York. "When you need it really bad, they jump it up like that," said Matthew Wierman of Hyde Park.
"I can't afford $60 to fill up. It's not going to happen," one driver said.
The national average reached $3.76 a gallon, 17 cents lower than New York City's average of $3.93.
Some attribute the soaring gas prices on the problems in Libya. Rebellion there impacted oil fields, putting a stop to the country's daily exports of 1.5 million barrels of crude, and leading oil speculators to push up the price.
"I don't understand politics in the Middle East. I don't know what's involved," said Jonathan Tropper of New Rochelle.
Simultaneously, refineries in the U.S. were switching to their summer blend, which also increases the cost.
Experts said the average cost of gas could exceed 2008's all-time record of $4.11 a gallon.
"When gas hit four dollars, motorists ... changed their driving habits and we saw the price of gasoline and crude oil plummet. That could happen again but most experts say I don't think so," said Sal Risalvato of the NJ Gasoline Retailers Association.
Has the change in gas prices affected your driving? Leave a comment below…
