Gas prices in Northeast Georgia rose above $4 per gallon this week as the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine ramps up here at home. The situation in Europe has accelerated price increases at the pump, which were already rising as demand rebounded from a slump early in the pandemic, exceeding supplies.
The national average for a gallon of regular fuel is now $4.173, according to AAA, after jumping 55 cents in the last week alone. That’s the highest ever recorded, not accounting for inflation, NPR reports.
The previous record price was $4.114 set in the summer of 2008.
The current average price in Georgia is $4.06 per gallon of regular unleaded, 11 cents lower than the national average.
In Habersham County, gas was under $3.60 per gallon less than two weeks ago. Now, prices range between $3.90 and $4.50 per gallon.
And drivers are not likely to find any relief soon.
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the United States is banning imports of Russian oil and gas as part of the country’s sanctions against the Russian government. He says the sanctions have bipartisan support and will target the “main artery” of Russia’s economy.
But he says this is ban will cost the American people financially to continue the nation’s support of Ukraine.
“Defending freedom is going to cost,” Biden said. “It’s going to cost us as well in the United States.”
“My mom normally pays for my gas, but it’s been a lot recently,” says Dover, a Habersham Central athlete, who says he doesn’t have time between school and sports to work to help pay for gas.
He’s one of four in his family that drive, with two other brothers that also drive trucks. “It’s going to be really hard to afford to fill these trucks, they hold a lot of gas.”
He says he’s worried about how rising gas prices will impact his family, as well as the rest of the community.
“I don’t like how it’s going, here or in other places in the world,” Dover said as he filled up his truck at Racetrac in Cornelia. “It’s a tough time.”
In an effort to ease prices at the pump, Governor Brian Kemp announced Tuesday he is temporarily suspending Georgia’s gas tax. He also took the opportunity to try and win some political points in an election year where inflation and high energy prices are weighing heavily on voters’ minds and wallets.
“Due to a total failure of leadership in Washington, we are actively working with the Georgia House and Senate to quickly move legislation that will temporarily suspend the state’s motor fuel tax and lessen the significant impact higher gas prices are having on Georgia families,” Kemp tweeted. “Because of our strong, fiscally conservative budgeting, I’m confident we will be able to provide relief to hardworking Georgians – both in the form of a tax refund and lower gas taxes.”
A recent NPR-Marist survey found that 83% of Americans support financial sanctions on Russia, and 69% say they would continue to support such sanctions even if energy prices rise.
This article has been updated with additional information
