Gas Prices in the US

Gas prices have been on the rise throughout the past couple of years, affecting most people throughout the world.

Starting all the way back in 2018, diesel fuel prices started to rise higher and higher, creating a major exponential decay in the economy, not only affecting people with cars, but workers who drive trucks and other large machinery. In 2021, gas prices spiked the highest they have ever been. Although there are many reasons why the prices have been raised, currently the main reason is because Russia was one of the main sources for the United States when receiving petroleum gas and other oils, but because of the war between Russia and Ukraine,  President Joe Biden made an order that prohibits any oil import from Russia causing a rise in prices. Iowa has raised their gas price by 11.4 cents since the last week of 2022. That has changed gas prices drastically from 2021, when the highest average gas price was $2.09 per gallon to now – $4.77 per gallon in 2022. The Biden administration team has taken 50 million barrels of oil out of the United States emergency supply to help level out the price on gas. The United States has also started importing oil from Venezuela. America has started importing oil from Venezuela because President Biden made the decision early on in his presidential status to stop the oil process in the United States. Even though gas prices started to drop in October, somewhat because of gas taxes and the demand is lower in rural areas, they were still higher than past years and now have been on the rise again. Depending where people live in Iowa, some might be paying more than others. Starting January 1st of 2023, the average gas price in Dallas County was $3.06 per gallon while its neighbor Polk County’s average is only $2.99 per gallon.

Gas prices have caused many people to feel differently about the prices. “They’re too high,” Chris Rech, a sophomore, states. Others feel it is high, but do not think it is as big of a deal. “They’re pretty high. I don’t like paying for my gas. I think they should be lower, that would be nice, but I dont think it’s as big of a deal as people make it out to be it just more at convince you know” Nolan Craig, a sophomore, states. 

With the prices going down, there is still a high possibility they will skyrocket again. “They really went down because that’s just how the economy works and fluctuates overtime, so it’s cheap now and will keep getting expensive later. That’s just how it works,” Xavier Lago, a sophomore, said. However in 2022 and now 2023 prices have been slowly dropping and many hope it stays that way.