Soaring gas prices are hitting families and businesses hard, but that hasn?t changed driving habits yet.
Gas prices in the Washington metro area have jumped nearly 50 cents since March 1 to an average of $2.76 a gallon, according to AAA?s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Prices increased 11 cents in the region since the beginning of April.
Motorists? tempers are rising, too.
“I can feel myself getting angrier and angrier,” Josephine Endicott said, as she fueled up at the Crown station in downtown Silver Spring, where unleaded regular sold for $2.95. “Something has to be done about it.”
With a family of four, Everett Cottom, of Hyattsville, said he?s dependent on gas as he travels from one extracurricular activity to another. He said he can?t reduce his traveling, so he?ll have to cut from somewhere else in the family budget.
“I hate to say gouging, but that?s what it is,” Cottom said.
Gas prices are expected to hit the $3 mark soon, said John Townsend II, of AAA Mid-Atlantic.
“It?s hurting people; it?s hurting families,” he said. “And it?s only going to get worse.”
Townsend hasn?t noticed a decrease in travel yet, but that is expected to change if gas prices cross the $3 threshold. When it happened last year, demand dropped 1.1 percent, he said.
That?s a lot for a country that travels 3 trillion miles a year. Rising jet fuel prices are expected to hit the airline industry, according to the Air Transport Association.
“Record crude oil prices will hamper the industry?s widespread efforts to reverse the losses that have plagued the airlines in recent years,” ATA chief economist John Heimlich said in a statement.
He predicted the industry will lose $2 billion this year, after losing $10 million last year.
The high gas prices are affecting the bottom line for area businesses.
“It?s bad,” said Reggie Tymus, of Capitol City Limousine Co. “The prices are skyrocketing so fast, we can?t pass it on to the customer.”
By the numbers
* Average price for a gallon of gas is 49 cents more than a year ago
* Prices made highest month-to-month spring jump since 1999
* Pricesexpected to be 25 cents more this summer than last
