Holiday drivers can expect to see higher gas prices than last year

By David Kennard, posted Sep 1, 2021 on BizFayetteville.com

**Most drivers can expect to see higher prices at the pump over the Labor Day holiday weekend, but most stations will have gas to sell. (David Kennard/Greater Fayetteville Business Journal)**

Labor Day marks the traditional close of the summer season. It’s also the traditional end to road trip season. It’s also a continuation of the pandemic warning season.
"First and foremost, if you are unvaccinated, we would recommend not traveling," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing earlier this week.
That said, many residents around the Fayetteville area may take the risk and get out of town for the long weekend.
If you do, you’ll face higher gas prices.
Assuming you’re making the same trip you did last year, here is a quick glance of what you’ll pay in gas prices.
Traveling to Myrtle Beach in the family Suburban getting 22 miles per gallon (highway) will cost you about $65 round trip. You’ll save quite a bit if you take your 34-mpg Honda CRV, just $15 there and back.
Other destinations:
Kitty Hawk in the Suburban, $46; In the CRV, $30.
Charlotte in the Suburban, $45; in the CRV, $16.
Asheville in the Suburban, $70; in the CRV, $50.
Over the last year, drivers have seen gas prices increase by about $1 per gallon, according to a report from GasBuddy.com.
While it’s nearly impossible to plan your trips around what gas prices may be a year from now, it’s somewhat easier to figure out where they will be next week.
Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis (USA) for GasBuddy, points to shrinking crude oil inventories as one reason drivers may continue to see increases in the price of gasoline.
“Crude oil inventories decreased by 7.2 million barrels (MMbbl) to a total of 425.4 MMbbl,” De Haan said on Wednesday. “At 425.4 MMbbl, inventories are 73.0 MMbbl below last year (14.6%) and are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.”
Another factor: Hurricane Ida.
The greater Fayetteville area saw a little wind and some light rain showers on Wednesday as the storm moved mostly to the north.
The Gulf states had it worse, much worse.
“Shell, Phillips 66 and Exxon were among the energy companies that temporarily closed refineries in advance of the storm,” according to a USA Today story. “About 96 percent of the oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was also shuttered in anticipation of the hurricane, according to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.”
“The biggest concern is probably not so much the wind but the flooding,” De Haan said. “Refineries are built pretty solid right now, but one thing they can’t really plan around is the rain.”
North Carolina drivers can expect only a slight price increase at the pump, due to the passing storm.
Around the state, average gas prices stood at $2.93 per gallon, according to AAA. That’s about 24 cents per gallon less than the national average.

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