ATLANTA — August is on track to become the most expensive August ever for drivers at the gas pump.
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For the first time, the national average price for gasoline has remained above $4 a gallon every day this month. While Georgia drivers pay less than the national average, many say the cost still strains their budgets.
According to AAA, Georgia’s average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.79.
“It’s just ridiculous, the way the prices are going up,” driver Lorenza Cantrell said.
Gas prices are more than a dollar higher than they were six months ago when the war involving Iran began. Analysts say the conflict has helped drive up fuel costs because of concerns about disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.
“It’s one of them things you can’t avoid,” driver Brad Harris said.
A study by Watson Brown found that U.S. families are spending an average of $388 more on gasoline this month compared to before the conflict began.
“Hopefully they can figure that out. That’s way above my pay grade, but unfortunately my pay grade is being impacted by what I’m spending for gas,” Harris said.
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For many drivers, higher prices are leading to changes in their daily routines.
“It’s unfortunate we have to get gas with the gas prices so high. The prices are just going through the roof,” Cantrell said.
Cantrell said she has started combining errands to avoid unnecessary trips.
“It does hit the pocket, and I try to group everything together so I don’t have to make as many frequent trips,” she said.
With the Labor Day holiday approaching, some drivers say they are also scaling back travel plans.
“Normally I would do some trips around Labor Day weekend to visit family, but I think we’re going to combine everything,” Cantrell said.
Harris said he plans to stay closer to home.
“The holidays look like throwback barbecue, TV, fun music, and not trying to set myself up to get on the highway just to be attacked with another bill,” he said.
Georgia officials are also preparing to implement a new federal fuel waiver, which could affect fuel supplies and prices in the coming weeks.
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