Posted on March 19, 2006
Once again, gasoline prices are headed skyward.
According to a survey of five local stations, average costs for regular unleaded fuel in the Harrisonburg area rest at $2.39 a gallon. This marks an increase of about 40 cents in a little over a month. The rising prices have affected JMU students like Jackie Campitell.
“It’s just ridiculous the way gas stations can gouge us like this,” Campitell said. “Prices are crazy nowadays. Look back just a few weeks ago and gas was only like $2 a gallon.”
As an owner of a bulky SUV, Campitell knows how hard gas prices hit the wallet.
Just six weeks ago, local gas prices dipped to around $2, taking some heat off the wallets of college students.
But some called the price drop a fluke.
Randy Bly, head of Community Relations for the American Automobile Association, said that “we won’t see $2 again in the immediate future.”
Expensive fuel is an anomaly to Harrisonburg, a city notorious for its inexpensive gas.
Even now, after a price jump, local gas costs are still below the national average of $2.55 a gallon and the statewide average of $2.41, according to fuelgaugereport.com, a Web site sponsored by AAA.
Bly said gas prices traditionally rise in the springtime.
“Spring is a volatile time for gasoline costs because refineries undergo repairs during that season,” Bly said.
Dealing with rising gas prices can be tough.
“Everybody has to drive,” said freshman Nathan Holcomb.
“We can’t just walk everywhere around here. Either buy yourself a bike or just bite the bullet and buy gas. There’s not much of an in between.”
