With holiday travel ahead, gas prices go up again in Arizona
May 21, 2021, 4:05 AM
(AP Photo/Ross Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross Franklin)
PHOENIX – With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon and COVID restrictions easing, holiday travel is expected to jump considerably this year and gas prices are reflecting that in Arizona and across the country, an oil industry analyst said.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at travel and navigation app GasBuddy, said the statewide average in Arizona as of Thursday morning is $3.13 and might be a few pennies higher next week before travelers hit the road.
“That’s $1.06 higher than this time last year at $2.07,” De Haan told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
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The Phoenix average is $3.17, he said.
Memorial Day weekend is generally regarded as the unofficial start to summer vacation. The holiday falls on May 31 this year.
“Overall, we expect about 57% of Americans to plan at least one road trip this summer. The biggest roadblock will be higher gas prices,” De Haan said.
Are you planning to take a road trip this summer? If you said yes, you're in the majority. Even with recent high gas prices, GasBuddy's recent summer travel survey proves Americans are ready to hit the road! ☀️🕶 pic.twitter.com/UsFAGCk0XY
— GasBuddy (@GasBuddy) May 19, 2021
That number from Gas Buddy was at 31% last year when the pandemic was in full swing.
De Haan said the top five considerations for Americans taking road trips this summer will be “the cost of gasoline, health and safety, picking the right dates, seeing friends and family and being to see activities and entertainment.”
