Staff Photo
The QT on Pelham and Old Boiling Springs Road is showing how close prices are to $4 a gallon for unleaded gas.
Some gas prices throughout the Upstate have reached $3.9e9 for a gallon of unleaded fuel.
And there’s no end in site. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a U.S. ban on imported Russian oil. “Unfortunately this isn’t the end of seeing prices rise at the pump,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. “Motorists could continue to see record high prices at the pump because of the high oil prices that are surging due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Sanctions and regulations against Russia has limited its ability to sell its oil on the global market, which has intensified global supply concerns in what was already a tight market due to the pandemic.” Today’s gas price average in South Carolina sits at $3.88, having a 41-cent increase on the week. This average is 70 cents more than a month ago and $1.37 more than a year ago. These are the highest prices since April 2012. The national average for a gallon of gas is $4.06, a staggering 45 cents more than a week ago, 62 cents more than a month ago and $1.30 more than a year ago. The national average has not been this high since July 2008. The U.S. price of oil surged 26% last week, rising a little more than $24 per barrel. An increase of that magnitude translates to a 60-cent increase at the pump. This could yield another 10-15 cent increase at the pump. Fuel Saving Tips:
- Maintain your vehicle to optimize fuel economy.
- Combine errands to limit driving time.
- Shop around for the best gas prices in your community.
- Consider paying cash. Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers who pay with a credit card.
- Remove excess weight in your vehicle.
- Drive conservatively. Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduces fuel economy.
For updated state and metro prices log on to https://gasprices.aaa.com/