Global affairs send fuel prices skyward in Mitchell, beyond
The sign at the Spruce Pine Ingles Gas Express reads $4.19 on a rainy day in Spruce Pine. Such signs have routinely been shifting upward. (Cory Spiers)
Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, drivers across the nation have felt the effects at the gas station, and the trend is seen locally.
As sanctions on Russian oil combined with supply and demand help drive the price up, the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $4.17 as of Tuesday, March 8, according to AAA.
In North Carolina, most counties had per gallon prices north of $4 by Wednesday, March 9.
Per AAA, as of March 9, the average price per gallon in Mitchell County was $4.17— higher than its tri-county neighbors, Avery ($4.01) and Yancey ($3.99).
Some areas near the North Carolina coast, as well as Clay County, were averaging $4.20 per gallon as of the same day. Down the mountain in McDowell County, there was little relief. The average price per gallon that same day clocked in at $4.02.
The cheapest gas in the state as of that report could be found in Alleghany County where a gallon averaged $3.86. The average in neighboring Ashe was $3.88.
On average, gas prices in North Carolina have risen weekly by 37 cents, AAA said. Prices statewide are up 71.2 cents per gallon compared to a month ago.
Local stations have followed the nationwide trends. The price signs at the local Valero and Ingles stations have been frequently in flux. As of the morning of Wednesday, March 9, they read $4.19. Significant daily increases haven’t been uncommon.
With gas prices at the highest point since 2008, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in an interview with Fox News that $4 might be the least of the nation’s worries, adding that California could be heading for $5.50 per gallon with some stations charging upward of $6.
De Haan said the unprecedented times could lead to an extended period of pain at the pumps for drivers.
“We’ve never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty,” he said. “As we lose a major global producer under the weight of deserving bipartisan sanctions for invading a sovereign country, the cost is high. Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time, with little good news foreseen.”
With the soaring costs, many travelers across the state and county are changing their habits to save money at the pumps like carpooling, eliminating unnecessary trips and even walking, biking or using public transportation, when possible.
Mitchell County Transportation offers a free route through Spruce Pine. Find information on the Pine Line Shuttle at mitchellcounty.org/the-pine-line-shuttle.