Drivers Question What's Behind The Rising Gas Prices
They go up, and they go down. And right now, we're in the middle of a long upswing: Gas prices across the country have been on the rise for more than a month.
Just a month-and-a-half after the holidays, and with payroll taxes higher this year, this spike in the gas price has folks wondering: why now?
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"Yeah, I drive pretty much all day," said Stephen Moore, Penfield.
Moore is a field sales representative.
"I'm at the pump at least twice a week, so yeah, it hits hard."
"It's crazy... it's absolutely crazy," said Rhonda Miga. She ferries her young son to-and-from doctor's appointments.
"Is there any regulation that could be done with the oil companies? It's just nuts!"
According to AAA, the national average gas price has gone up 32 consecutive days.
"You know, I really don't have an answer for that. It is incredible," said Mark Walton, Bowen's Sunoco.
In Rochester, up 22 cents the past month.
Walton has owned the Sunoco on Monroe Avenue long enough to remember higher:
"Um, like $4.20, $4.25... something like that."
There's no cut-and-dry reason behind the price hike this time. Some say the job market is finally coming back, driving greater demand. Others say the supply of gasoline has shrunk, with world oil refineries cutting back on production.
What is agreed upon, is that this is an odd time for a spike at the pump.
"I don't know if it's gonna keep on going for this time of the year, because we still have spring to get into, and everyone drives more in the springtime," Walton said.
In the end, there's not much we can do.
"It doesn't affect my driving because it's our primary form of transportation," said Miga.
"I don't have as much discretionary income as I normally would have," Moore said.
That's why we all have to cut back somewhere. If money's tight, these folks tell us their only secret is to cut out that morning cup of coffee or that candy bar you buy every day; maybe try carpooling and chipping in for gas, too.