The price of gas has risen to an all-time high across the country. Costing more than it ever has in history.
According to American Automobile Association, the national average for the price of gas is $4.32.
It is likely that this will not last for days or weeks, but months, with the prices set to increase even more.
“Even as prices are expected to decline after May, the average is expected to remain over $4 until November,” a USA today article states.
The United States is seeing the repercussions of what is happening overseas here at home. Gas prices were increasing slightly but have risen dramatically due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. is no longer importing oil from Russia, which has caused the price of gas to skyrocket.
“Americans have never seen gasoline prices this high, nor have we seen the pace of increases so fast and furious,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy said. “That combination makes this situation all the more remarkable and intense, with crippling sanctions on Russia curbing their flow of oil, leading to the massive spike in the price of all fuels: gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and more.”
Students feel they are the ones that are having to afford the price of gas while other people are making decisions that directly affect them and the country.
“I hate that there is a war going on and that it is having such a huge effect on us,” Austin Shaw, a sophomore majoring in secondary education, said.
One student suggested that oil companies should be paying more instead of regular citizens.
“Instead of putting all the burden on citizens to pay the rising gas prices, maybe just make it where oil companies do not make tons of money,” Christopher Marcantel, a junior majoring in civil engineering, said.
The price to fill up a car has dramatically risen in the past several weeks and is likely to continue rising. Kendall Umeozulu, a sophomore majoring in kinesiology, who owns a Toyota Corolla is not driving very much because of the gas prices, and it has been two weeks since he has filled up his car.
The cost to fill up a tank of gas is steadily climbing. According to Rocket HQ, “A car with a 12-gallon tank costs $46.20 to fill up while a larger car with a 15-gallon tank costs $57.75.”
The price to fill up a tank will affect students financially, and they are directly seeing the effects of the climbing gas prices.
“My car is a 16-gallon tank, and it is also a V6 engine, and it takes about $64 to fill it up,” Shaw said.
The major solution to the gas prices for most students is simply to not drive as far or as often. Students are staying on campus and many are not going home to visit their families.
“My family does live in New Iberia, and I have family in Texas, so I would not be able to drive as much and visit,” Shaw said.
Most students are living and working on campus but have limited income and are making minimum wage. Students have a limited amount of money and the rising prices will affect them financially.
“I am a college student and I should not be paying that for gas,” Umeozulu said, “I do not have the funds, and I am trying to focus on school right now.”
The price of gas is set to continue to rise, and students will have to make changes to manage their income and expenses to compensate for the increase.
Marcantel is a front desk worker in the residence halls and is paid minimum wage every two weeks. He only works the number of hours that he is scheduled as a student worker.
“When I filled up a couple of days ago it was $35 so nearly half of my check,” Marcantel said.