Middle East Unrest Leads to ‘Price Shock’ at Brookline Pumps

Jerry Joiner has been pumping gas for three years and claims he’s heard it all when it comes to price complaints. But this past month, he said, has been crazy.

“Its price shock,” said the pump attendant at on Harvard Street. “No one saw this coming. People are going to go back to bicycles soon.”

Gas prices in Boston have risen at surprising rates since early February, jumping from an average of $3.13 a gallon on Feb. 4 to $3.47 a gallon on March 5, according to gasbuddy.com, a price gathering website. Brookline is not far behind, with current prices ranging from $3.65 to $3.44 per gallon.

Analysts for AAA have blamed the spike, which recently saw the price for crude oil break past the psychological milestone of $100 a barrel, on fears of spreading unrest in the Middle East and Northern Africa, though fighting in Libya and elsewhere has had little actual impact on fuel supplies.

Back in Brookline, Elias Audy, owner of the on Route 9, said he’s already concerned about the rising prices.

“It’s hurting the pocket, hurting business,” he said. “People are slowing down, not spending like they used to.”

Joiner said he’s seen the price change from 25 cents in his lifetime to $4 a gallon in 2005, and he wouldn’t be surprised if it went to $5 before this was all over.

“I’m shocked at the way prices keep rising,” he said as he pumped gas on Saturday. “It's up from $3.27 to $3.47 within a week.”

Brookline resident Richard Chinman pulled up in his silver Toyota and got out of his car to talk to Joiner. “I want to get a full tank before prices go up again,” he said, only slightly jokingly as Joiner filled his tank. “They’re gonna keep going up and up and up if the crazy politicians don’t get their heads examined.”

Some drivers are already saying that if prices continue to climb, they are may have to find alternative modes of transportation.

“I use my car to pick up my kids from school every day,” said Brookline mother Rossandry Rivera. “It would be really hard if the prices rose too high.” Rivera’s husband rides a bicycle to work everyday as it is and she might join him, she said, “Maybe that or walk.”

Others are less willing to give up the pump.

“I work in West Roxbury, so there’s no public transportation out there,” said Coley Ferraro from the driver’s seat of her Toyota hybrid. Her car’s fuel efficiency allows her to fill up about once every two weeks, but she said it still hurts when she find she finds herself back at the pump.

Drivers’ tolerance for high fuel prices may be tested this summer, when gas usage among Americans traditionally increases.