As gas prices inch higher and higher above the $3 mark, Salinas
resident Paul Arroyo is feeling the effects on his pocketbook.
”
You’re being pinched everywhere,
”
he said.
”
It affects what you can do and buy.
”
As gas prices inch higher and higher above the $3 mark, Salinas resident Paul Arroyo is feeling the effects on his pocketbook.
“You’re being pinched everywhere,” he said. “It affects what you can do and buy.”
Arroyo filled up his tank at the Hollister Safeway with $60 of gas before his 27-mile commute home from his job.
With the exception of his daily commute, Arroyo said he tries not to drive much with the increasing gas prices. If the cost-per-gallon stays this high, he said, it likely would affect his holiday travel plans as well.
“It’s kind of ridiculous. It makes it hard to make ends meet,” Arroyo said.
Gas prices have reached an average of $3.23 a gallon in Hollister. And with no signs of reprieve, local drivers are once again feeling the effects on their wallets.
Commuters got some relief from rising gas prices earlier this year when the cost at the pump dropped in the summer.
After reaching a high of $3.46 a gallon in May in the greater San Jose area, prices decreased to a $2.90 per gallon average in September. But that low was short-lived, and prices have since increased steadily.
Sean Comey, spokesman for AAA of Northern California, said that the biggest marketplace driver is the rising cost of raw materials. Crude oil has increased about $40 a barrel, which translates to about $1 a gallon increase at the pump, he said.
Until the cost of oil decreases, gas prices will likely hover above the $3 mark, Comey said.
While the cost of crude oil has the biggest impact right now, consumer demand also plays a large part in the price.
California has seen the demand for gasoline decrease over the past year – a trend that has helped offset the rising cost of oil. Comey said more people telecommuniting, carpooling and buying hybrid cars have likely caused the decreased demand.
“It’s important consumers remember they play an important part in the dynamics of the marketplace,” Comey said. “For a lot of people, doing a few minor changes can help save them money, help save the environment and help contribute to lowering the overall cost at the pump.”
Hollister resident Gene Ruiz tries to limit the impact on his wallet by making fewer out-of-town trips when gas prices are high, he said.
“I try not to drive as much,” Ruiz said. “I try to utilize what I’ve got.”
Ruiz, who filled his Ford truck at Quick Stop on Monday morning, said he tries to make the most of his drives when gas prices are up, making sure to run all of his errands in town and on one trip.
