'It's not too good': Gas prices continue to hit record highs as summer travel increases

’It’s not too good’: Gas prices continue to hit record highs as summer travel increases
NEXT:

GLENDALE, Wis. -- The pain at the pump doesn't look like it will go away any time soon as gas prices continue to hit record highs at the local, state and national levels.

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas currently sits at $4.76. The state average in Wisconsin is $4.68. Some gas stations, however, have surpassed the $5 mark.

"It's not too good," said a gentleman filling up his car in Glendale. "Got to keep driving no matter what."

The rise in prices has to do with a variety of global factors including the war in Ukraine and China beginning to ease up on pandemic restrictions. AAA says another factor is a demand increase as Americans head into the busy summer travel season.

"It's likely that prices will continue to go higher," said Nick Jarmusz, a travel expert and head of media relations with AAA. Now whether they'll go significantly higher or begin to level out soon is really difficult to say."

Despite that uncertainty, Jarmusz says he doesn't anticipate fuel prices to hit a more reasonable mark until well after the summer travel season.

"We're probably not going to see significant reduction in prices until at least we got on the other side of this summer driving season in the fall," Jarmusz said. "People are going to find a way to make it work in their budget."

Jarmusz says he doesn't anticipate the rise in prices to impact summer travel plans, however he says more Americans may start to carpool and find other ways to avoid filling up as much. He also shared some other tips to help folks stay safe on the road while making better fuel mileage.

"Drive more fuel efficiently, and one of the best ways you can do that is to slow down and to drive less aggressively," Jarmusz explained. "Address two problems in one by slowing down, driving a little more cautiously and less aggressively on local roads. You're going to increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle as much as 30-percent and you're going to reduce crash risk and risk of fatality in a crash."

Share this article: