Gas prices hit 7-year high ahead of busy Memorial Day weekend
Thomas McDonald
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Gas prices across the country are the highest for a Memorial Day weekend since 2014.
The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.04 nationally, compared to $1.97 during last year’s Memorial Day weekend.
AAA expects 34 million Americans will hit the road between May 27 – 31, a 53% increase in road travelers from last year’s Memorial Day when COVID-19 restrictions were heavily implemented. A month ago, before the cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline, AAA reported that the average price of regular gas per gallon was $2.88.
Western and Northeast states are seeing some of the highest jumps in gasoline prices, with California’s average per gallon being $4.18 and $3.17 in Washington D.C. On the other hand, Southern states see some of the lowest gasoline prices, with Louisianna having an average price per gallon of $2.71.
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Michigan has seen the largest increase in average price, with an increase of 9 cents since May 20. Ohio is in second place with an increase of 5 cents. Oklahoma leads the nation with the largest decline in gasoline prices, decreasing by 4 cents since May 20. North Carolina and Maryland also saw declines of 3 cents.
Former President Donald Trump released a statement blasting Biden for the rise in gas prices, saying it’s a total “shame” that America was no longer energy independent, something the country achieved under Trump’s administration.
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“With Memorial Day Weekend coming up, tomorrow people start driving in the biggest automobile days of the year. I’m sorry to say the gasoline prices that you will be confronted with are far higher than they were just a short number of months ago where we had gasoline under $2 a gallon,” Trump’s statement reads.
“Remember as you’re watching the meter tick, and your dollars pile up, how great of a job Donald Trump did as President. Soon Russia and the Middle East will be making a fortune on oil, and you will be saying how good it was to have me as your President. Wasn’t it great to be energy independent, but we are energy independent no more. Shame, shame, shame. Other than that, have a great Memorial Day Weekend!” Trump added.