Low supply not meeting demand, gas prices on the rise
Low supplies from refineries have drivers paying more at the pump.
“They’re pretty up there. I mean, not high enough to where I’m uncomfortable with driving,” Serena Salgado said.
At the pump, drivers said gas prices aren’t out of their budget, yet.
“Not right now. But if it gets up higher. If it gets up past $3,” Jesus Lopez said.
But soon it might be. AAA says gas prices in Riverside County have gone up 4 cents a gallon since last week and more than 30 cents a gallon than this time last year.
“Various refineries have already taken some units off of lines so that means there is less supply on the market consequently that drives the price upward,” AAA of Southern California Spokesperson Marie Montgomery said.
Montgomery said the difference falls with the supply. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, one florist says no matter how much it costs him at the pump, his orders are going to be delivered to meet demand.
“Valentine’s [Day] is our biggest single holiday. We’ll have six delivery vans on the road which is a lot of gas we’re using,” Mark Weinstein with Rancho Mirage Florist said.
Weinstein says despite higher gas prices his delivery fees stay the same. A challenge for his business because he says he gets orders from both sides of the valley.
:”We’ll do all the Rancho Mirage runs, all the Palm Springs runs. We’re going to try to do it in one run but on a holiday like this, we’re in and out all day,” Weinstein said.
It’s a shift drivers throughout the valley learn to deal with. One driver says he’s skeptical about how the increases come about.
“I know there’s these things about winter blends and changing and all that kind of stuff. I’m just of the opinion that gas prices are being regulated to keep them artificially high,” Jeff Johnson said.
As the numbers keep climbing some drivers say they will have to make other shortcuts to make up for the cost.
Tips to save gas:
Plan errands and consolidate trips ahead of time to cut down driving time Remove storage from the trunk to travel lighter Drive slower and keep your RPMs low Carpool with co-workers, bike or walk to work
For more tips visit AAA.
