College students are facing financial struggles with gas prices now averaging $3.83 in Phoenix according to AAA.
The average driver drives approximately 13,000 miles each year according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. If a driver averaged 25 mpg that is a cost of close to $2,000 a year for gas.
Austin Scott is not only a full-time transfer student attending Arizona State University but also works part time.
“It’s definitely played into my financial struggle. I drive a lot for school and to get to work. Therefore, I get gas about once a week. It costs $45 every time I fill up,” Scott said. “As gas goes up, my bank account gets lower. It’s definitely caused some stress.”
However, gas prices aren’t just increasing in Phoenix. This is an issue in the U.S. and abroad.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum relations at Gas Buddy, says that the entire country is seeing higher gas prices.
“This past year, Arizona’s gas prices have risen by $1.31 — almost the same as the national average,” De Haan said.
He says that the rise in gas prices is a direct result of the pandemic. And there’s no telling when they’re going to go back down.
“A year ago, the economy was shut down. Businesses were closed. There were really few outside activities,” De Haan said. “As a result, people just weren’t driving as much, so the demand for gas was lower. That pushed oil prices lower as well.”
Now, a year later with the economy opening up and life getting back to somewhat normal, De Haan says that is what has caused the spike in gas prices.
“Because the economy has improved significantly from a year ago, Americans can go out and the economy is open, everything has surged [in cost].”
De Haan says that the surge in gas prices has absolutely nothing to do with politics, adding that people should leave it out of the conversation.
“Politicians are pointing fingers, but this is not political. It’s a global phenomenon. High oil prices are not just affecting Americans; they’re affecting people in other countries as well.”
Tristan Richards, a Dutch Bros employee and full-time downtown ASU student, says the cost of transportation as a college student is way too high. And the surge in gas prices isn’t making things any better.
“I live on the Tempe campus, but a lot of my classes are downtown,” Richards said. “You can never find parking downtown, so I decided to invest in a parking pass. That was a lot of money.”
He paid for his downtown parking pass at the beginning of the year. On top of that, he pays for parking at his apartment complex every month.
Additionally, his price for gas was always high due to his vehicle’s low fuel efficiency. But now it’s skyrocketed even higher.
“I drive a 2008 Chevy Tahoe. It costs an arm and a leg to fill it up,” Richards said. “I drive a lot, I drive to work, school and social events. It’s definitely added to some of my financial stresses.”
Contact the reporter aesteel@asu.edu.
