Bay Staters taking a highway journey for Memorial Day weekend ought to take into consideration filling up their tanks early within the week, as excessive gasoline costs nearing $5 a gallon are anticipated to leap much more forward of the busy journey weekend.
Gas costs in Massachusetts proceed to remain at a report excessive of $4.73 per gallon, which is up 13 cents from final week. Gas is $1.19 greater than it was the week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which despatched shockwaves by means of the oil market.
Massachusetts’ common gasoline worth is now 14 cents larger than the nationwide common, and Suffolk County’s common worth has soared to $4.86. Gas is a whopping $5.87 on Martha’s Vineyard and $5.68 on Nantucket.
“It’s a tough time for a lot of people,” AAA Northeast’s Mary Maguire mentioned Monday. “And the priority proper now could be the value of oil stays excessive, the battle between Russia and Ukraine continues, and Memorial Day weekend with elevated demand for gasoline as individuals hit the highway is correct across the nook.
“We’re looking at busy Memorial Day weekend travel forecasts, and I think it’s likely prices will increase as demand grows for Memorial Day travel,” she added. “So I’d recommend that people fill up early in the week.”
AAA predicts that greater than 39 million individuals will journey 50-plus miles this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a rise of 8.3% over 2021, bringing journey volumes nearly in keeping with these in 2017.
Travelers from Massachusetts will make up near 950,000 of the 39-plus million, with greater than 860,000 going by automobile.
“A lot of people filling up their tanks and visiting gas stations this week will put upward pressure on the market,” Maguire mentioned.
“Don’t wait to fill up until you get to a busy stretch of highway like the Mass Pike, or when you make it to Cape Cod or the Berkshires where prices are traditionally higher,” she added. “Fill up close to home and early in the week.”
Other states have been suspending their gasoline taxes, however Massachusetts Democrats have rejected Republican proposals to briefly do away with the gasoline tax.
The State Senate’s finances contains amendments to droop the state gasoline tax.
“Senate President Karen Spilka and the State Senate are scheduled to begin budget debates tomorrow and they can work to lower fuel costs by simply adopting an amendment that would suspend the collection of the state gas tax,” Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, mentioned in a press release on Monday. “If the Senate needs to assist its motorists, they will. The query that shall be answered this week is that if they need to, and we hope they may see the worth in supporting their constituents with decrease gasoline prices.
“The cost of virtually everything is increasing,” he added. “The Massachusetts Legislature could lower costs by suspending one of these regressive taxes. This week, we will see how serious the State Senate is about standing up for working families.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”