UNDATED - Drivers nationwide are paying an average of $4 for a gallon of gasoline for the first time and for the first time, $4-a-gallon for regular, unleaded was spotted in Gainesville over the weekend.
AAA and the Oil Price Information Service say the national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose to $4.005 overnight Saturday from $3.988. Some analysts speculate that's because some retailers boosted their prices by 10-15 cents a gallon. But consumers in many parts of the country have already been paying well above that price for some time.
In Georgia, the average is $3.97, up from $3.64 a month ago; Monday morning, at least two outlets in Gainesville were selling regular, unleaded for more than $4-a-gallon, the first such prices recorded in Gainesville. At one westside outlet, $4.03 was the asking price. At another, on the east side, they were getting $4.07. However, $3.99 still seems to be the norm.
The highest prices in northeast Georgia? According to georgiagasprices.com, you'll find them in Athens, where regular is running as high as $4.28.
Gas is expected to keep climbing, putting greater pressure on consumers and businesses, because the price of oil is soaring in futures markets. Light, sweet crude shot up nearly $11 a barrel Friday and approached $140 for the first time.
Along with higher fuel costs, consumers are also contending with higher prices for food and other goods because of rising transportation costs.
(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story).
Friday
October 11th, 2024
6:19PM
