Gas prices have reached their highest level in nearly four years, marking the highest costs at the pump since July 2022. With one of the busiest travel weekends of the year approaching, many drivers are reworking their budgets to fill up before hitting the road.Daniel Armbruster of AAA New Mexico said, “Memorial Day, you know, prices are going to be at least where they are now, if not a little bit higher.”AAA expects 3.2 million people from the mountain region to travel more than 50 miles this Memorial Day weekend. While many families are projected to adjust their budgets around the price increases, others are canceling their travel plans entirely.Dean Vaughn is among those canceling trips due to the costs.”I was going to go up to Santa Fe and visit my dad’s grave. But I’m not, just too much money, man. It’s too much money,” Vaughn said.According to AAA, the primary driver behind these high pump prices is the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. This instability has directly impacted global energy markets, keeping pressure on fuel costs.”Crude oil trading over $100 a barrel, and it has been now for a couple of months, we’re going to continue to see higher gas prices,” Armbruster said. Gas prices during this time last year averaged around $2.96 a gallon. Now, it’s around $4.50. The current high prices are prompting some New Mexicans to alter their lifestyles.”It just hurts, man. It does.” Vaughn said.Vaughn noted that he has had to cut back on personal hobbies due to the financial strain.”I like to collect records. I love collecting. I can’t do that because new records cost $27. A couple of months ago, I could afford that. Now, that’s, like, food out of our stomachs,” Vaughn said.He added that rising fuel costs create a ripple effect that increases the expense of transporting goods to store shelves, which is now impacting his grocery bill.”Everything’s more expensive. Go to the store. Everything, everything. We eat some more expensive milk, bread, eggs,” Vaughn said. “It all comes in on trucks and trucks use diesel and diesels gone up. So everybody’s jacking up their price.”For some drivers, higher gas prices are also reducing their take-home income. Merrill Wasserman, a rideshare driver, is experiencing the financial impact directly.”I feel I’m putting more money out. Companies are constantly trying to reduce the pay for drivers,” Wasserman said.Wasserman said filling just half a tank in his hybrid vehicle now costs about $25.”I have to drive more miles and hope I get enough to pay for gas,” Wasserman said.AAA stated that drivers can save money by adjusting their habits behind the wheel. Experts recommend avoiding fast acceleration and removing unnecessary weight from vehicles, which can improve fuel efficiency by up to 15 percent.
Gas prices have reached their highest level in nearly four years, marking the highest costs at the pump since July 2022. With one of the busiest travel weekends of the year approaching, many drivers are reworking their budgets to fill up before hitting the road.
Daniel Armbruster of AAA New Mexico said, “Memorial Day, you know, prices are going to be at least where they are now, if not a little bit higher.”
AAA expects 3.2 million people from the mountain region to travel more than 50 miles this Memorial Day weekend. While many families are projected to adjust their budgets around the price increases, others are canceling their travel plans entirely.
Dean Vaughn is among those canceling trips due to the costs.
“I was going to go up to Santa Fe and visit my dad’s grave. But I’m not, just too much money, man. It’s too much money,” Vaughn said.
According to AAA, the primary driver behind these high pump prices is the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. This instability has directly impacted global energy markets, keeping pressure on fuel costs.
“Crude oil trading over $100 a barrel, and it has been now for a couple of months, we’re going to continue to see higher gas prices,” Armbruster said.
Gas prices during this time last year averaged around $2.96 a gallon. Now, it’s around $4.50. The current high prices are prompting some New Mexicans to alter their lifestyles.
“It just hurts, man. It does.” Vaughn said.
Vaughn noted that he has had to cut back on personal hobbies due to the financial strain.
“I like to collect records. I love collecting. I can’t do that because new records cost $27. A couple of months ago, I could afford that. Now, that’s, like, food out of our stomachs,” Vaughn said.
He added that rising fuel costs create a ripple effect that increases the expense of transporting goods to store shelves, which is now impacting his grocery bill.
“Everything’s more expensive. Go to the store. Everything, everything. We eat some more expensive milk, bread, eggs,” Vaughn said. “It all comes in on trucks and trucks use diesel and diesels gone up. So everybody’s jacking up their price.”
For some drivers, higher gas prices are also reducing their take-home income. Merrill Wasserman, a rideshare driver, is experiencing the financial impact directly.
“I feel I’m putting more money out. Companies are constantly trying to reduce the pay for drivers,” Wasserman said.
Wasserman said filling just half a tank in his hybrid vehicle now costs about $25.
“I have to drive more miles and hope I get enough to pay for gas,” Wasserman said.
AAA stated that drivers can save money by adjusting their habits behind the wheel. Experts recommend avoiding fast acceleration and removing unnecessary weight from vehicles, which can improve fuel efficiency by up to 15 percent.