Gas prices hitting painful levels in Vacaville and beyond
February 21, 2012admin No Comments »If you’ve been feeling queasy lately, chances are you’ve seen your near-empty fuel gauge and you’re dreading a fill up.
You are not alone – gas prices in Northern California jumped significantly during the Presidents Day holiday weekend and consumers are hopping mad.
“They suck. That’s what I think,” advised Vacaville resident Leroy Williams of the rate hike on Monday, filling up the tank of his Toyota Tacoma at a Valero station on Mason Street in Vacaville off westbound Interstate 80. “They’re ripping us off. We’re in a recession, very seriously. with people not even working, how can they pay for gas?”
Cora Brice agreed.
Having collected unemployment recently, no benefits and a still-stagnant economy, the rising fuel prices are an extra expense for Brice.”It’s outrageous, ridiculous. Why aren’t prices coming down?” she said, as she fed the tank of her Honda Accord at a Chevron station on Alamo Drive at Peabody Road in Vacaville. “I live in Winters and it’s even more expensive there.”
Darryl McFadden of Fairfield has also been feeling the pinch.
“It’s bad, especially given I commute back and forth to work in the Bay Area,” he said, as he topped off the tank of his Audi at the Valero on East Monte Vista Avenue and Browns Valley Parkway in Vacaville. McFadden’s dealt with that commute for about 16 years.
According to AAA, the state average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.85 per gallon. That’s a jump of 15 cents from last month and 40 cents from this time last year.
In Northern California, the average is $3.83 per gallon, up 16 cents from last month, and $3.90 in the Bay Area, also up 16 cents from January,in Vacaville, prices topped the $4 mark at some stations.
Matt Skryja with AAA said fuel prices are influenced in large part by the activity of investors.
“They are looking for any influences, perceived or real, to both supply and demand. these influences impact their buying behavior,” he said. “Positive economic news tends to inspire investors’ buying, as they anticipate increased demand. The reverse is true with poor economic news.”
Skryja explained that crude prices skyrocketed as Greek lawmakers approved measures to aid the country in receiving a second round of bailouts. Prices also rose in connection with tensions with Iran, he added, “which have added uncertainty to the future crude supply.”
As there’s very little that consumers can do about the situation, Vacaville resident Jason Bradshaw said, he merely grins and bears it.Queried at a 76 station on Alamo Drive near Butcher Road in Vacaville, Bradshaw said he drives a big truck with a big tank that’s costly to fill.
“What are you gonna do?” he said, shrugging. “You gotta have it and they know it.”
It’s believed that prices will rise past the $5 mark this summer, which could impede travel plans for many.to get the best gas mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair.
Officials also suggest avoiding sudden stops and starts, planning errands and lightening your load.
Follow Staff Writer Kimberly K. Fu at Twitter.com/ReporterKimFu.
<a href="http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_20010976tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_20010976Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:54:55 GMT”>Gas prices hitting painful levels in Vacaville and beyond
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