Weekly Reader | Lead Story | Gas Prices Soar

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Gas prices over $4.00 per
gallon are displayed at a Shell station.

o your parents groan when you ask for a ride to the mall? Have they asked you to make friends closer to home? Do they grumble when they need to fill their gas tanks? If so, there’s a reason: Gasoline prices in the United States have reached an all-time high. The average price of gasoline is now $3.98 cents per gallon, according to the Automobile Association of America (AAA). In at least 12 states and in Washington, D.C., a gallon of gas costs more than $4. Those prices are up 10 percent from a month ago and almost 26 percent from a year ago.

What’s pushing up prices at the pump? Most experts blame the rising cost of crude oil, or petroleum. Crude oil is a nonrenewable resource made from the remains of ancient plants and animals that is used to make gasoline. In the past year, the price of oil has doubled. The price for a barrel of crude oil peaked at $135.09 on May 22. In recent weeks, the price dropped to $123.87 a barrel, but experts say it will take awhile for the price of gasoline to follow suit. That is because it takes time to turn oil into gasoline. Plus, prices for gas are typically higher in summer months when it is in high demand. People tend to travel more in the summer.

Critical Thinking:

How much gasoline does your family use each week? For one week, keep track of your family’s driving and gasoline use. What are some ways your family could use less gasoline?

The high cost of gas doesn’t just drain people’s wallets; it also strains the U.S. economy. Consumers feeling the pinch at the pump have less money to spend on other things. “Every extra dollar needed to fill up the car is a dollar not available for groceries, housing, education, vacations … and other aspects of American families’ lives,” says Robert L. Darbelnet, president of AAA.

Rising costs are also hurting many U.S. businesses. General Motors (GM), the country’s largest automaker, recently announced plans to close four plants that employ thousands of workers. All of those plants made gas-guzzling trucks and sport-utility vehicles. GM’s chairperson Rick Wagoner says people are now buying smaller, more efficient cars. “These higher gasoline prices are changing consumers’ behavior and rapidly,” he says.

Experts say gas prices will most likely drop in the fall, when there is less demand. But no one knows by how much. In the meantime, lace up your walking shoes! You might be getting a lot of exercise this summer.

Find out where gasoline comes from here.

How much does gas cost in your state? How does it compare to the price in other states? Find out here.

Gasoline isn’t the only way to fly. Try our picture jigsaw to discover another power source. It’s a breeze!

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