As the summer driving season approaches, Gasoline prices It shows no signs of slowing down.
The national average for unleaded gas hit a new high of $4.59 per gallon on Thursday, According to AAA. For the first time ever, the average price was $4 per gallon or higher in all 50 states this week, according to AAA data. At this time last year, the price was $3.04 per gallon.
high prices Crude oil She said the car group is largely responsible. “The rising cost of oil, the main component of gasoline, is driving higher pump prices for consumers,” Andrew Gross, a spokesman for the AAA, said in a statement.
How to save on gas
If you’re still planning on going the road, there are ways to protect yourself somewhat from price hikes at the pump. Consumer savings expert Andrea Worch offers the following advice:
- Track gas prices. Apps like GasBuddy, Gas Guru, and AAA TripTik can track the cheapest per gallon among gas prices. Even if the difference isn’t huge, it can still add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
- pay cash. The price per gallon can be from 10 cents to 15 cents per gallon for credit card transactions. Pay cash instead for a lower rate or use a Gas Rewards credit card to earn cash on these fees. (CNBC Choose he have full tour One of the best cards for nutrition based on your consumer habits.)
- Drive strategically. Carpooling to and from work, school or playing sports can drastically reduce the time you spend on the road. Woroch advised that you can even find ride shares using sites like ZimRide, RideJoy, or eRideShare.com. Also, order online and find free delivery to cut down the cost of getting groceries, takeout delivery, and other daily essentials.
- Subscribe to loyalty programs. Additionally, loyalty programs, which many major gas station chains have, can help offset the price at the pump. Some grocery store chains may also offer cents per gallon bonuses. For example, Kroger and Shop & Stop award fuel points for every dollar spent on groceries, which can be redeemed at participating gas stations.
