Pinnacle wire service
Friends and relatives may be urging you to drive on down for the
holidays, but prices at the gas pumps are definitely arguing for
the joys of gathering around the home fires.
Regular gas in California is at $3.26 a gallon and rising. An
unprecedented — for this time of year
– $3 a gallon nationwide average is still possible by
Christmas.
Pinnacle wire service
Friends and relatives may be urging you to drive on down for the holidays, but prices at the gas pumps are definitely arguing for the joys of gathering around the home fires.
Regular gas in California is at $3.26 a gallon and rising. An unprecedented — for this time of year – $3 a gallon nationwide average is still possible by Christmas.
“You know it’s ridiculous, but what can you do? You’ve got to go with it,” said Kacey Pankins of Sacramento as he filled up Friday. He paid a relatively low $3.17 a gallon at a Valero station on Franklin Boulevard and Meadowgate Drive.
Analysts link climbing gas prices to crude oil prices now flirting with $90 a barrel, driven by speculators betting that an improving world economy will increase demand.
Dan Lina, who also paid $3.17 a gallon Friday at an AM/PM station at Elk Grove Boulevard and Highway 99, said gas prices were part of his decision to stay home this year.
But for many, the lure of distant holiday festivities is too strong to be deterred.
“Travelers are resolved to spend this longest holiday period of the year with family and friends,” said AAA spokeswoman Cynthia Harris. “Regardless of ongoing concerns over unemployment and financial uncertainties, Californians are not holding back on their travel plans for the holidays.”
AAA Northern California predicts an increase in holiday travel this year, including more than 10.6 million Californians who will drive. Overall, AAA expects 11.6 million in the state will travel more than 50 miles, up 3 percent from last year.
And many car trips will be extensive — 1,208 miles for the average California motorist this year, AAA said.
In the past month, the statewide average gas price has increased 12 cents a gallon. AAA Northern California’s monthly gas price survey released Tuesday put the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline statewide at $3.26, up from $3.14 in the Nov. 9 survey.
