Thanksgiving gas prices projected to be highest in 5 years; 30 percent of Americans say gas prices are impacting their travel plans
Published 6:26 am Wednesday, November 20, 2019
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Those taking to the roads to celebrate Thanksgiving will take a harder hit to their wallet at the pumps.
According to a release from GasBuddy, a smartphone app that helps customers avoid paying full price for gas, the national average for gasoline is expected to be at its highest since 2014.
However, the release goes on to report that only 30 percent of Americans say high prices are impacting their plans and that it won’t slow them down much. That coincides with a 7 percent rise in motorists on the road for Thanksgiving versus last year.
GasBuddy projects the national average gas price this Thanksgiving will be $2.56 per gallon, a penny higher than last year. The national average has seen a smaller decline since October than usual, part of the reason for the higher prices this Thanksgiving versus last year.
While prices have averaged a 10-cent decline from October to mid-November over the last decade, this year has seen a decline of just 5 cents over the same time frame.
According to AAA, the national average for regular is already sitting close to that projected high at $2.595 a gallon as of Tuesday. In Minnesota that average is sitting at between $2.483 and $2.561 a gallon.
GasBuddy offers several money-saving tips for motorists on the road this holiday season:
• The Day of the Week Matters. GasBuddy has analyzed gas price data year-over-year and found that Monday offers the lowest average gas price in 30 states, making it the best day to fill-up. The day with the most expensive average gas prices: Friday.
• Pay with GasBuddy. A free payments service that offers at least 5 cents off per gallon on every fill-up at thousands of gas stations nationwide. Drivers can save upwards of $10 per tank when used with the GasBuddy app during their holiday travels.
• Don’t Drive Like a Maniac. Aggressive driving habits like speeding, rapid acceleration and braking as they can cost drivers up to an extra $477 per year in fuel consumption. Drivers in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Sacramento, Calif. are the most aggressive drivers in the country according to a recent GasBuddy study.
• Embrace the ‘Fuel-i-days’: GasBuddy’s Fuel-i-days celebration is bringing more than $30 billion in gasoline savings to Americans this holiday season. Participants will effortlessly get free gas when going about holiday activities like shopping for gifts and finding a parking spot. Follow @GasBuddy on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.
Thanksgiving travel period defined as Wed. – Sun. during the week of Thanksgiving. GasBuddy’s Annual Holiday Travel Survey was taken by 500 respondents Oct. 1 – 4, 2019.