Metro-Area Residents React to High Gas Prices

Gamble lives in Norcross and commutes into Atlanta for work – a 20 mile drive, she says.

“I need this,” Gamble said. “There’s no alternative. There’s no way I can catch a bus to go home and to come here for work, so I have to have my automobile. I have to have gas, and right now it’s hard to afford it.”

Gamble is one of many metro-area residents who say the increasing cost of gas is affecting their day-to-day lives.

According to AAA, gas prices have been on the rise both in Georgia and across the nation. This week, gas averaged $3.68, the same as the national average. The price is one cent lower than last week, but it’s 20 cents higher than a month ago and 27 cents higher than the same time one year ago.

Carla Digiovanni has noticed. She says she likes to take weekend trips to nearby cities, but has cut back on those.

“I’ll cut back on those almost immediately after I see the prices go up,” Digiovanni said.

Tim Davis said he shops around to find the best price when possible, “but if you’re real low, you got to get something somewhere.”

He said he also tries to find savings by buying less food at the grocery store.

“Well, I need to go on a diet anyway.”

AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said these actions are typical when gas prices are on the rise.

“Gasoline prices, when they increase like they’ve been doing in recent months, that certainly has an impact motorists’ decision on how they’re going to spend their money,” Jenkins said.

But Jenkins adds there’s good news for metro-area motorists.

He said gas prices typically peak this time of year and should start decreasing soon as refineries start increasing production.

“If all the factors continue in the way that they are, if supplies continue to grow like they are, then there’s a good chance we have seen our price peak for the year,” Jenkins said.

However, Jenkins says there’s never a guarantee those numbers won’t creep back up.