Travel
Here’s How Much Gas Prices Just Went Up For Spring Break Travel
Gas prices just went up by double digits in some parts of the U.S. Here's how much you can expect to pay at the pump in North Carolina.
CHARLOTTE, NC — If you’re hitting the road for spring break travel, you can expect higher prices at the pump, according to the AAA.
As of March 28, the national average for a gallon of gas is $2.64, which is more than a nickel higher than it was a week ago, AAA said. The higher prices are occurring across the U.S., including in North Carolina, and six states are reporting double-digit price hikes.
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Gas prices are up in Idaho by 16 cents, Utah by 14 cents, Delaware by 13 cents, New Mexico by 12 cents, South Carolina by 10 cents, and in Maryland by 10 cents, AAA said.
In North Carolina, the average price of a gallon of gas is $2.53, which is 13 cents higher than a month ago and 34 cents higher than the same gallon a year ago.
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Motorists can expect more increases to come this year, according to the automotive organization.
“Right now we are seeing the market starting to purge winter-blend gasoline to make room for summer-blend,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “The jump in gas prices is just the beginning for the season. AAA forecasts the national gas price average will be as much as $2.70/gallon this spring and summer.”
The current average per gallon in the Charlotte-Gastonia region of North Carolina is slightly lower than the state's, coming in at $2.50 per gallon. That is 13 cents higher than average prices recorded a month ago and 33 cents higher than prices a year ago in the metro region.
When it comes to finding the cheapest gas options, Charlotte drivers are neighbors with the some of the cheapest gas in the nation, according to AAA. This week, South Carolina's average was $2.40.
Top ten cheapest gas markets in the U.S. this week, according to AAA:
- Missouri - $2.31
- Mississippi — $2.35
- Arkansas — $2.36
- Alabama — $2.37
- Louisiana — $2.39
- Texas — $2.39
- South Carolina — $2.40
- Oklahoma — $2.40
- Tennessee — $2.41
- Ohio — $2.42
You can keep up with AAA's gas prices for North Carolina here.
Photo via Ashley Ludwig/Patch
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