Gas prices across the nation for the 4th of July weekend are the highest recorded since 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
AAA data shows that in Missouri and around the country, travelers during the 4th of July weekend should expect the highest gas prices since 2014.
Nick Chabarra with AAA said 47.7 million Americans are expected to travel over the Independence Day weekend, with 790,000 of them being in Missouri.
Charbarra said this is a 40% increase compared to travel during the pandemic last year. He said the higher prices don't seem to be affecting the number of people on the roadways.
Missouri has an average gas of $2.81 which is well below the national average of $3.12. A map of gas prices by AAA shows that Missouri has the lowest price of all its' border states.
Columbia resident, Evan Mogley, travels back and forth from Columbia to St. Louis to visit his parents.
"The increase in gas prices has certainly hurt my budget a lot more than anticipated. I typically go to St. Louis regardless of the price, but I do have to account for that whether that's taken away through groceries or maybe staying in more," said Mogley.
Chabarra said the increases started in late 2020 due to the increased demand and higher crude oil prices. He also said there has been an issue that people think there is a gasoline shortage when the shortage is actually in fuel truck tanker drivers.
Steven Cronin with Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) said the Midwest has about 1 million barrels of gas in stock, which is more than was stocked 2 years ago before the pandemic.
Cronin said with the shortage in fuel truck tanker drivers it isn't resulting in cities without gas, but local gas stations or gas chains may run out of supply for a few hours or even days.
With the increased travel this weekend, Chabarra is advising drivers to not let their tanks get below a quarter tank of gas if you happen to come across a station that is out of gas, it gives you enough time to get to the next one to fill up.
