ARIZONA NEWS
Gas prices reach record high in Arizona at average of $4.13 per gallon
Mar 7, 2022, 6:30 AM | Updated: 10:17 am
At Camelback Road and 40th Street in Phoenix on March 6, 2022. (KTAR News Photo/Kevin Stone)
(KTAR News Photo/Kevin Stone)
PHOENIX – Gas prices in Arizona climbed to their highest point ever Monday with a statewide average of $4.13, according to motor club AAA.
The previous mark of $4.09 was set in July 2008.
As of Monday, AAA in Arizona said the average price at the pump in Phoenix is $4.12; Tucson is $4.06; and Flagstaff is $4.24.
A year ago at this time, drivers in the Grand Canyon State were paying $3.01 per gallon.
“Beyond the issues with gasoline, you’ve got diesel selling at incredible numbers. We’ve got a tough spring coming up and this won’t be over in a week. This is painful,” Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for Maryland-based Oil Price Information Service, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday.
“It’s a problem.”
Across the state, the average price for diesel fuel jumped to $4.56 – the all-time high of $4.85 was also set in July 2008.
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Kloza doesn’t see a slowdown in sight. Higher fuel prices will be passed along to consumers on goods shipped, he said.
“It’s going to be pervasive. Jet fuel is up and airlines aren’t shy about passing those increases along in higher fares.”
Kloza said many Americans are looking for someone to blame within the United States for the higher prices.
“That’s not appropriate. This one is on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he said.
“This has nothing to do with the Keystone XL pipeline, which was going to be a project years from now and it has nothing to do with federal leases and not drilling. It has to do with oil companies not wanting to go through a third cycle of boom-and-bust and they’re in a boom cycle right now. And don’t blame President [Joe] Biden.”
Oil prices jumped and shares were sharply lower Monday as the conflict in Ukraine deepened amid mounting calls for harsher sanctions against Russia.
On top of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sending oil prices up Arizona drivers will see even higher prices because of the switchover to summer blend fuel.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
