Gas Prices Up, Again
By: KLST News
Updated: February 22, 2013
Don't look now but gas prices are still on the rise. Since February 8th, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas has gone up almost 30 cents and drivers around the Concho Valley aren't happy.
The state wide average for a gallon of unleaded fuel in Texas is now $3.64. Which is 14 cents lower than the national average but for truck drivers such as Darin Durden, filling up isn't cheap.
"I'm a company driver and there are days were I get 120 gallons in this truck and at almost $4 a gallon," Durden said, "that's $480 per truck a day, that's crazy. I remember stories my mom told me when gas prices at her station were 14 cents a gallon. "
Triple A public affairs specialist Doug Shupe said that the combination of oil refineries' closing for seasonal maintenance and the switch to summer blend fuels are the causes for the unusually high gas prices we are seeing.
"As these refineries across the country go offline during the short-term maintenance period," Shupe said, "they work at a temporary reduced capacity and that causes the regional supply to many times to decrease and that causes the markets to be more sensitive during this change over period."
Experts say with the spring and summer blends poised to hit the market in the upcoming weeks, prices may continue on the upswing at least for the short term.
Linda Adams said she only fills up enough to get where she needs to go and these prices only adds more strain to everyone's pocket book.
"To me it's just a ridiculous ammount. The excuses that are being given about working on the plants that produce gas," Adams said, "it just seems this just adds on to another heartache to a lot of people that have to work and survive and this is just out of sight."
The state wide average for a gallon of unleaded fuel in Texas is now $3.64. Which is 14 cents lower than the national average but for truck drivers such as Darin Durden, filling up isn't cheap.
"I'm a company driver and there are days were I get 120 gallons in this truck and at almost $4 a gallon," Durden said, "that's $480 per truck a day, that's crazy. I remember stories my mom told me when gas prices at her station were 14 cents a gallon. "
Triple A public affairs specialist Doug Shupe said that the combination of oil refineries' closing for seasonal maintenance and the switch to summer blend fuels are the causes for the unusually high gas prices we are seeing.
"As these refineries across the country go offline during the short-term maintenance period," Shupe said, "they work at a temporary reduced capacity and that causes the regional supply to many times to decrease and that causes the markets to be more sensitive during this change over period."
Experts say with the spring and summer blends poised to hit the market in the upcoming weeks, prices may continue on the upswing at least for the short term.
Linda Adams said she only fills up enough to get where she needs to go and these prices only adds more strain to everyone's pocket book.
"To me it's just a ridiculous ammount. The excuses that are being given about working on the plants that produce gas," Adams said, "it just seems this just adds on to another heartache to a lot of people that have to work and survive and this is just out of sight."
