SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- As more gas enters the tank, more money is coming out of your pocket.
Public & Government Affairs Manager at AAA Mid-Atlantic Jana Tidwell says the main contributor is crude oil which accounts for about fifty to sixty percent of a gallon of gas.
"Crude oil in the last week or so has closed above $90 a barrel again for the first time since 2014," Tidwell said. "When crude oil prices jump, gas prices will follow suit."
Tidwell says what is fueling the rise in crude oil prices is caused by the tensions between Russia and Ukraine causing trouble importing and exporting oil.
For regular gas, Maryland's average price is four cents cheaper than Delaware's. Maryland sits at $3.44 per gallon while Delaware sits at $3.48.
As people are driving up and down Coastal Highway, they are seeing significant differences in prices from station to station and there are many who are frustrated when they go to the pump. Josh Blumenthal of Lewes saw a huge change in prices very quickly.
"To see a jump of twenty cents is a little unusual overnight," Blumenthal said. "If you drive from community to community, whether you go north or south, can’t go east too far. But if you go west you’ll see a drop too."
Tom Davis of Lewes believes car manufacturers are to blame.
"The manufacturers are trying to put them out of business, the gas business by going all electric," Davis said. "It’s crazy. I mean there’s people on social security like myself, we can't afford these prices anymore."
And Tidwell says prices like this are not going anywhere anytime soon.
"There are some industry analysts saying that crude oil will stay above the $80 per barrel mark as an average throughout this year," Tidwell said. "That will translate to gas prices maintaining within a few cents of where we are right now."
AAA says there are ways to conserve your tank of gas after you fill up. They include making efficient trips, carpooling, making sure your tires are inflated properly, and limiting how much junk is sitting in your trunk.
