Higher gas prices put pressure on Lawrence drivers

Gas prices in Lawrence are significantly higher than they were a year ago, leaving drivers who commute or drive frequently for work with higher monthly expenses.

As of Sept. 30, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Lawrence was about $4.17, according to AAA. One year ago, the average was about $2.80 per gallon. That puts the current price about $1.37 higher, an increase of nearly 49%.

For Lawrence resident Kerry Strong, the difference adds up because of his daily commute to Kansas City.

“Because I work in Kansas City, I’ve got about a 35, 40-minute commute each way,” Strong said. “So it’s probably costing me $200 a month, I think.”

Even a driver who fills up less often could spend hundreds of dollars more over several months.

Using the roughly $1.30-per-gallon increase measured during the reporting of this story, a driver with a 15-gallon tank who fills up twice a month would buy about 180 gallons over six months.

At $1.30 more per gallon, that equals about $234 in additional gas expenses over six months.

Lawrence resident Nathan Schultz said frequent trips to work have also made the higher prices difficult to avoid.

“It screws me over with how much I drive,” Schultz said. “I work at least five shifts a week, so I have to fill up my gas tank.”

Schultz said his car has a smaller gas tank and requires a fill-up about once every three weeks. He estimated spending between $100 and $150 on gas every two months.

The increase in prices comes during a time of elevated crude oil costs and instability in global oil markets.

AAA reported on Sept. 24 that the national average for regular gasoline had reached $4.48 per gallon. AAA cited high crude oil prices and continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz as factors pushing prices higher. The organization also noted that gas prices normally begin falling as autumn starts, making this year’s increase unusual for the season.

A week earlier, AAA reported crude oil was averaging about $100 per barrel as volatility in the region continued.

The federal government does not directly determine the price displayed at individual gas stations. Gas prices respond to factors including crude oil costs, refining, distribution, supply, demand and global market conditions.

For Lawrence drivers who depend on their vehicles for work, the higher prices mean those changes are showing up in their weekly and monthly budgets.

Watch the segment here: