Americans paying more for gasoline
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AMERICANS are feeling the pain at the gas pump. In Hawaii, the sting just got a little worse.
The state reached the dubious milestone on Monday of being the first in recent years where the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline hit US$4, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Report.
The Aloha State's average of US$4 per gallon is the highest in the US, beating California's average of US$3.96. Alaska has the third highest average price at US$3.90.
"Of course I'm not happy about it at all, but no one is," said Irma Lai, who was filling up her small SUV at a Big Island gas station that was charging US$4.22 a gallon. "What the hell can I do? I have to drive. I use a cane."
Lai isn't the only one upset, and some are beginning to worry that consumers' increased spending on gasoline won't leave enough for other spending to fuel the nation's economic recovery.
"Four dollars is definitely a psychological mark," said Marie Montgomery, spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California, which covers Hawaii.
She said many stations have avoided changing their price signs, hanging onto the 3s as long as possible.
"I'm seeing in California, a lot of gas stations are almost like they're afraid to put that 4 on there," she said.
Some cities have already hit a US$4 average, including San Francisco, but Hawaii is the first state to reach the mark since 2008. The area tracked by AAA in Hawaii with the highest average was the Wailuku area of Maui, where the average Monday was US$4.24.
The national average for regular unleaded was US$3.56 a gallon, up a nickel from a week ago and 43 US cents higher than a month ago.
The state reached the dubious milestone on Monday of being the first in recent years where the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline hit US$4, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Report.
The Aloha State's average of US$4 per gallon is the highest in the US, beating California's average of US$3.96. Alaska has the third highest average price at US$3.90.
"Of course I'm not happy about it at all, but no one is," said Irma Lai, who was filling up her small SUV at a Big Island gas station that was charging US$4.22 a gallon. "What the hell can I do? I have to drive. I use a cane."
Lai isn't the only one upset, and some are beginning to worry that consumers' increased spending on gasoline won't leave enough for other spending to fuel the nation's economic recovery.
"Four dollars is definitely a psychological mark," said Marie Montgomery, spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California, which covers Hawaii.
She said many stations have avoided changing their price signs, hanging onto the 3s as long as possible.
"I'm seeing in California, a lot of gas stations are almost like they're afraid to put that 4 on there," she said.
Some cities have already hit a US$4 average, including San Francisco, but Hawaii is the first state to reach the mark since 2008. The area tracked by AAA in Hawaii with the highest average was the Wailuku area of Maui, where the average Monday was US$4.24.
The national average for regular unleaded was US$3.56 a gallon, up a nickel from a week ago and 43 US cents higher than a month ago.
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