Michiana residents change journey plans as fuel costs close to $4 a gallon

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – Gas costs within the Michiana space have climbed to $3.89 a gallon at some pumps, and it’s prompting some residents to cancel journey plans and rethink their spending.

Two weeks in the past, a gallon of fuel within the South Bend space was $3.29. By March 10, that worth had risen to $3.59.

As of Tuesday, some pumps are displaying $3.89 a gallon.

Residents adjusting plans

Jacquelane Mellott stated the worth improve is affecting her household’s annual trip.

“Me and my family would go up to the Upper Peninsula every year, it’s probably not going to happen this year just because of the gas prices,” Mellott stated. “Usually, we’d pay about a hundred bucks to get up there. We’d probably be tripling our gas budget at this point just to get up there for a vacation.”

Mellott stated the will increase are forcing troublesome selections.

“It’s compared to spending my last 20 dollars on gas, or taking my kids out to do something fun on the weekends,” she stated. “Like, you really have to pick and choose what you want these days and it’s not about saving or anything cause there’s no room to save right now.”

Jenny Buccola stated she canceled a day journey to Chicago this weekend due to the costs.

“I make trips to Chicago, it’s about a two-hour drive. I do a day trip now and then, but I made the decision this weekend not to go cause of the gas prices,” Buccola stated. “It’s insane. I mean, I keep a tight budget and I’m trying to save and make my way in the world as a young person, and it’s rough.”

Global oil market driving costs

Crude oil reached $100 a barrel this previous Sunday. Matt McClain, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, defined to WNDU final week how the battle affecting the Strait of Hormuz is influencing costs globally.

“We don’t get much Middle Eastern oil from Iran. In fact, it’s in the single-digit percentiles on most average days,” McClain stated. “It’s not a supply issue, we’re not seeing a supply and demand price point increase. Global oil markets are exactly that, around the globe. It doesn’t matter if Australia wants to sell oil to Japan, it’s a global market exchange and that exchange happens in U.S. dollars.”

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