AAA: Gas Prices On The Rise, Pa. Average For Regular Unleaded To Hit $3
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- If you haven't filled up your gas tank lately, brace yourself for some sticker shock.
Gas prices have hit the $3 mark and above at some local gas stations.
But rising gas prices seem to be a trend across the country. And since most folks prefer driving their own vehicle, they have two choices, pay the price or leave the car in the garage.
Prices seem to be continually on the move. Within 10 minutes of pulling into the GetGo on McKnight Road on Tuesday morning, the price of a gallon of gas went from $2.99 to $3.09 a gallon.
AAA spokesperson Jim Garrity says don't expect prices to drop anytime soon.
"Gas prices have been on the rise, and they have been on the rise for some time now, nationally and locally," he said. "It's a combination of a few things, mostly crude oil is more expensive than it was this time last year, and we are seeing demands higher than we have seen in years."
Pennsylvania is especially hit hard because of the state gas tax, which is 58 cents per gallon.
The national average is 30 cents a gallon, and because of that, most states are still 11 cents cheaper per-gallon than Pennsylvania.
AAA cannot predict where gas prices will go, but this surge does give motorists a change to plan trips and outings. Heather Deal knows that all too well.
"Prices are always going up, it seems like. We are always trying to conserve gas and not go anywhere too much because of the prices," she says.
So the reality is real, prices will probably get higher before the summer is over as vacationers hit the road and refineries begin using the more expensive summer blends of gasoline.
