As news continues to pour out of Ukraine where the Russian invasion now heads into its second week, Americans at home are feeling the effects emotionally as well as in their pocketbooks where prices at the gas pump are soaring.
Gas prices have jumped more than 50 cents a gallon since late last month, which has left many Aurora area drivers concerned about how to pay for the increasing cost of gas as well as forcing some to look at whether they should even head out on the road.
Molly Hart, who serves as a spokesperson for the AAA Auto Club Group based in Aurora, said “the Russia-Ukraine conflict has intensified what was already a global oil market that was tight on supplies” and that the jump in the price per gallon is already forcing some drivers to change their habits and drive less and search even harder for the cheapest gas price.
“When we did our consumer pulse survey, we did see people are making changes because of the gas prices,” Hart said. “A lot of people aren’t filling their tank all the way and need to take excess weight out of their car. There are tips people can use to help get more out of each gallon.”
Hart said gas prices may only get worse.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the market right now and we have to take this one day, one week at a time,” she said. “People should know that in March and April, we switch from the winter blend to the summer blend of gasoline which is more expensive to make because of additives. There’s also a truck driver shortage of people who transport the fuel which can affect prices as well as the fact that refineries go into maintenance in the spring which means they will not be at full capacity of oil production for a period of time.”
Drivers filling up at stations throughout Kane County on Thursday as well as gas station owners offered various perspectives on the jump in gas prices.
“People have been spending far less money inside our store after they buy their gas and people are very frustrated,” said Ray Awad of Montgomery, who owns the Grove Stop BP Market and Gasoline in Sugar Grove. “If they spent $10 on gasoline, they’d come and spend $5 more in the store. Now they’re spending the $15 on gas and not buying anything else. We’re not selling inside as much as we used to because people have no money.”
Awad said people are already talking about “trying not to make unnecessary trips anymore.”
“If they have to go to work they’ll go, but if it’s Walmart, they’re saying wait until next week when we need more stuff,” he said.
In St. Charles, those stopping at the Circle K Shell gas station at 2500 Main St. said increased prices are definitely a talking point these days.
“I live in St. Charles and work for Metra up in Barrington and I pass a lot of gas stations,” said Ed Sullivan. “The prices in Kane County are definitely cheaper.”
He said he thinks the high price of gas will be with us for awhile.
“I’m looking for a different vehicle and now I’m definitely getting something small,” he said due to the price of gasoline. “I have a feeling this is going to be something long term.”
Patty Schubert of St. Charles said she was “a local driver who isn’t affected as much as people who drive trucks and vans” and added that “I believe more people now are driving together.”
“There are more sharing of rides and a lot of people might be using Uber more,” she said. “My car is really good on gas but look – it would normally take $29 to $32 to fill up and now it’s $45.”
In North Aurora, the Thorntons gas station at 418 S. Lincolnway was visited Thursday afternoon by customers including Paige Smarto of Melrose Park, who said she works in Aurora and “consistently fills up the gas tank every week” despite prices skyrocketing.
“We have to make it work – we have to drive,” she said. “I can say I’m not doing much different but it’s going to cost me at least $15 more today.”
Aurora’s Barbara Zegiel said she was deliberately limiting rides and not going “anywhere extravagant” due to the surge in gas prices.
“I’m cutting back on trips and I’m careful about where I’m going,” she said. “I expect this (gas) is going to cost another 50 cents to $1 more before this is over and it’s going to get a lot worse and affect the other things I need to buy.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
