AAA: Gas prices near record highs
Gas prices continued their steady climb this week, coming within a nickel of last year’s high of $3.98 per gallon (reached in early May).
The national average price for regular grade gasoline rose 4 cents this week to $3.93 per gallon Friday. Prices remain 20 cents higher than month ago prices, 31 cents higher than a year ago and within 18 cents of the all-time record high of $4.11 per gallon set in July 2008. Read more
Obama talks gas prices with AAA
With prices climbing more than 60 cents a gallon since Jan. 1, President Barack Obama discussed energy and rising gas prices—a top-of-mind issue for motorists across the country including AAA’s more than 53 million members—in a meeting with AAA on Thursday.
Following his speech on energy issues in Cushing, Okla., the President spoke to a representative of the nation’s largest auto club that serves one-in-four American households. As an advocate of motorists nationwide, AAA asked the President questions likely to be foremost in the minds of drivers feeling the pain at the pump. Read more
AAA: Gas prices continue climb
Just days ahead of the official start of spring gas prices are at the highest point ever for this time of year and continue to climb toward the $4.00 per gallon mark this week, a trend expected to continue into the spring.
The national average price for regular grade gasoline stabilized somewhat this week, reaching $3.83 per gallon Friday, up 7 cents in the last week. Prices remain 31 cents higher than month ago prices, 28 cents higher than a year ago and within 28 cents of the all-time record high of $4.11 per gallon set in July 2008. Analysts continue to believe mid-March through mid-May will be a critical time for gas prices, which are expected to peak upwards of $4.00 per gallon (potentially as high as $4.25 per gallon nationally) before retreating. Read more
AAA: Gas prices down slightly
The streak is over. Gas prices dropped this week, by 0.33 cents per gallon on Tuesday, marking the first nationwide drop since Jan. 26, 2012.
Prices at the pump have been on an almost relentless rise since the end of the Labor Day weekend, with the national average price setting all-time records for prices in September, October, November, December, January and February. Read more
AAA: Gas could hit $4.25 a gallon this spring
Gas prices are surging and quickly headed to $4.00 per gallon. February is the earliest gas prices have ever topped $3.50 per gallon nationally. Prices typically rise ahead of the summer driving season, but this year has been anything but typical. The national average retail price for regular grade gasoline climbed to $3.65 per gallon this week, 12 cents higher than a week ago, 27 cents higher than month ago prices and 42 cents higher than a year ago. Gas prices are up 37 cents since the beginning of the year and are within 49 cents of the all-time record high ($4.11 gal) set in July 2008. Read more
AAA: Crude oil reaches six-week high
Prices at the pump surpassed the record annual average price established in 2011 ($3.51 gal) this week and have done so in record time.
In 2008, the year that saw the all-time high price for regular self-service gasoline ($4.11 gal) the $3.50 per gallon mark wasn’t topped until April 21. Last year, gasoline prices didn’t surpass $3.50 per gallon until March 8. This year, gasoline topped $3.50 per gallon on Saturday, Feb. 11. Read more
Webb introduces bill to strengthen adult ed, workforce training
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) on Thursday introduced the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act of 2012, which will reform and increase investment in job training, adult education and other programs needed to build a 21st century workforce. Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are original co-sponsors of the legislation.
According to the National Commission on Adult Literacy, 80-90 million U.S. adults today—about half of the adult workforce—do not have the basic education and communications skills required to obtain jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage or to enter and succeed in college. However, federal funding for adult education has declined in real terms since 2002, and the nation’s primary federal resource for adult education, job training and employment services—the Workforce Investment Act—has not been reauthorized or updated for over ten years. Read more
