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US records 11th straight day of record-high gas prices

Gas Prices
Posted at 5:57 AM, May 20, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-20 10:14:00-04

Gas prices in the US have hit a record high for the 11th day in a row.

The average for a gallon of regular gas reached an all-time high of $4.59 nationwide on Friday after increasing by 1¢ cent overnight, according to AAA.

AAA reports gas has increased 16¢ in the last week, 48¢ in the last month and $1.55 in the last year.

This streak of records topped the nation’s previous record of $4.33 set back on March 11.

AAA notes that there is normally a lull in gas prices between spring break and Memorial Day, but the U.S. is not seeing that this year.

“The high cost of oil, the key ingredient in gasoline, is driving these high pump prices for consumers,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “Even the annual seasonal demand dip for gasoline during the lull between spring break and Memorial Day, which would normally help lower prices, is having no effect this year.”

Several states — Oregon, Alaska, Nevada, Washington, and Hawaii — are averaging more than $5 per gallon with California now paying more than $6 a gallon.

Meanwhile, all 50 states are now reporting average gas prices of over $4 per gallon.

The cost of crude oil jumped significantly from December 2021 through March 2022, going from a low of $65 a barrel to a high of $119.

The sting Americans are feeling at gas stations is shared throughout the world.

The Canadian Automobile Association reports gas hit $5.92 (U.S. dollars) a gallon on Thursday. The U.K. is reporting the equivalent of $7.93 a gallon.

Diesel fuel also continues to set records, reaching $5.57 a gallon on Wednesday.

AAA is reporting the average price for a gallon of gas on Friday in Montana stood at $4.34.