The Growing Pain of Soaring Prices

PLYMOUTH-Gas prices have increased an average of 19 cents in the past three weeks. ABC News reports that this is “due to lingering high crude oil prices, growing demand and higher refining costs.” ABC News also reports that the average of self-serve regular across the country was $2.29 per gallon, and midgrade was $2.38. Premium averaged an astounding $2.48 a gallon for the same period. Gas prices have been soaring and college students are feeling the brunt. When asked if the rise in gasoline prices has affected her directly, PSU senior, Jennifer MacDonald said “I am definitely affected directly. I work to help pay my tuition, and it is frustrating to put so much of the money I make into my gas tank, just so that I can get to work. It seems a little ironic.” How long do college students like MacDonald have to deal with this predicament? The Energy Department reports that gas prices will average $2.35 through the month of May. The average gasoline price at the Irving Mainway in Plymouth last week was about $2.12-$2.17 according to account manager Richard Mcgloin of Irving Oil Company. When asked about the longevity of the rise in prices Mcgloin said, “This is a short-term increase. In fact this happens every year when we switch from winter to summer. There is just more of a demand right now than there has been in the last few months. [The prices] will be starting to come back down as we catch up.” Plymouth looks pretty good right now compared to a lot of other places in the country. While we do not have the lowest price on the record, we are better off than Bakersfield, California where residents paid $2.62 a gallon last week. The lowest price in the country last week according to ABC News was $2.06 in Newark, N.J.” It sounds like average gas prices will be coming down soon, so working college students like MacDonald can start putting more money in their wallets and less in their gas tanks.