An estimated 48.3 million Americans hit the road Thanksgiving, they will find that the price of gas along their route is not according to their will.
Due to inflation, holiday meals at their destination will be more expensive when combined, and will also be slightly higher when getting there. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was $3.40, the highest level during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend since 2012.
In an era where more and more cars are supercharged and demanding, the national average price for higher octane fuel is $4.03.
Diesel’s national average is $3.64.
California has some of the highest averages, with the regular $4.70 a gallon and the high end above $5.
> Autoblog Tool Cheap gas prices near me
However, from a historical perspective, the $3.40 national average for unleaded is a long way off, well below the peak average price. AAA ever recorded: $4.11 a gallon in July 2008 – would be $5.28 in today’s dollars.
The current price of gasoline does not force anyone to stay at home. AAA said travel is expected to grow 8% year-on-year as pandemic social distancing becomes more important, although this year’s level is down 3% from 2019.
Thanksgiving is truly a driver’s holiday, as the number of car travelers is less than the 4.2 million people expected to travel by air.
On Tuesday, USA President Joe Biden authorized the release of 50 million barrels of crude from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an attempt to lower pump prices. But any effect of the move on retail gasoline will not be felt immediately. And that amount may not increase supply that much – it’s merely the amount of gasoline Americans consume. 2½ days.
