If you filled your gas tank recently, you may have experienced some sticker shock, as gas prices are soaring.
According to AAA Northeast, gas in Massachusetts is up 19 cents a gallon over the last week. Compared to one month ago, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is up 27 cents.
AAA Northeast says the biggest factor in this double-digit price jump is the switchover to summer blend fuel last week – that's why prices generally increase this time of year.
They say winter blend is cheaper to produce, but summer blend tends to not vaporize as easily in the heat, so you get better gas mileage.
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With reduced demand between spring break and Memorial Day, those experts say gas prices should moderate soon.
Despite international concerns with Iran getting involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict, oil prices have actually been dropping, which experts say should help keep gas prices from rising further.
And with reduced demand between spring break and Memorial Day, those experts say gas prices should moderate soon.
But it's little solace to commuters forced to fill up their tanks multiple times a week just to get to and from work.
"I think a lot of people are getting rich on this, it's not us," Dan Benoit of Rutland.
"It's really tough, I hope things go the other way soon," Melissa Strickland of Worcester.
"I have no choice, right? Right now, I do have to pay it, so you're hoping for better times to come," Mark Boldy of Hopedale.
To put this in perspective, last year at this time, gas prices were about 8 cents lower than they are now.
