If you’re feeling the pinch at the gas pump, you’re not the only one

Humboldt County is seeing gas prices hovering around $6 a gallon. 

The American Automobile Association -also known as AAA–shows on its website that the current California average for a gallon of gas is $5.37. Locally, we see different prices depending on the gas station. They currently range from $5.40 to $6 per gallon. Drivers like, John Pape, who depend on their car to make money for a living, spend more than $100 a week.

“So I do Doordash for a living and gas is everything for me,” Pape said. 

Pape chose to fuel up at Great Gas since they have the lowest prices in Eureka. He paid $5.69 a gallon compared to the $5.99 at the Shell down the street. Other drivers like Benjamin Blackburn say they have to find better-paying jobs.

“I run a lot of diesel vehicles too and diesel is really expensive,” Blackburn said. “So you know just got to bid more on jobs and hopefully you get them.”

Blackburn also tries to find a gas station with the lowest gas prices.

“I go to Costco usually,” Blackburn said. “I should be going there now, but my wife has the Costco card.”

Triple AAA shows gas prices in California this time last year was $4.88 a gallon. 

“I think California’s gas price is artificially too high,” said Howard Glen, while he pumped gas at Costco. “I know that everything goes up so as gas prices go up, I understand that they will go up but, I just want to pay the least that I can.”

Triple AAA’s website also shares fuel-saving tips like slowing down and driving the speed limit, minimizing your use of air conditioning, and removing unnecessary and bulky items from your car when your car is heavier it takes more fuel to accelerate. 

According to consumer experts, Mondays and Tuesdays are the cheapest days to fill up your car, because demand is lower.