NORTHAMPTON — Gas prices have spiked in the wake of Hurricane Harvey nationwide, and western Massachusetts has not been spared. And while prices are expected to start going back down soon, another hurricane in the Atlantic might just throw a wrench in those expectations.
As of Tuesday, AAA listed the average gas price for regular gasoline nationwide at $2.648. Last week the average was $2.378.
The average for Massachusetts is higher, at $2.721, with the average listed for Springfield at $2.709. Last week’s statewide average was $2.358, while the Springfield average was $2.342.
Dan Goodman, manager of public affairs for AAA Northern New England, said average prices are calculated from data generated from card swipes at gas stations.
“It’s updated every day,” he said.
The sharp increases are the result of Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25 and has caused tens of billions of dollars in damage. The storm and the widespread flooding that resulted from it have also disrupted the extensive oil infrastructure in Texas, which has in turn driven up gas prices around the country.
However, Goodman said in a Friday release that because the Houston and Corpus Christi refineries have not reported significant damage, the price should begin to fall by mid to late September.
This is not the first time a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico has caused gas prices to rise in the United States. Indeed, Goodman noted that gas prices increased after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, he said that while wholesale and retail gas prices increased together following Katrina, it took a few days following Harvey for retail gas prices to go up.
Goodman said gas prices should go up about another 5 to 10 cents in New England before they start coming down, probably next week. However, this could be undone if Hurricane Irma further further disrupts oil production.
“That could have an effect on gas prices as well,” Goodman said.
Irma, the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic, on Tuesday evening was some 100 miles east of Antigua, tracking through the eastern Caribbean toward a possible landfall in Florida later in the week.
At gas station pumps around the Pioneer Valley motorists acknowledged the price increase, and none was particularly happy about it.
Natalie Frogameni, 29, of Northampton, said the gas price “kind of” played a role in her and her family’s decision to stay home for Labor Day weekend, as opposed to visiting relatives.
“I’m worried about it going higher,” Frogameni said.
Ilana Kasal, 27, who moved from Boston to Westhampton last week, felt the gas price increase when she drove back to Boston to spend Labor Day weekend there.
“It made them (her Labor Day plans) much more expensive,” she said.
Kasal works in Springfield, commuting there twice a day, so the increase has been digging into her paycheck as well.
“Dramatically, at this point,” she said.
Sofya Gaybaryan, 17, of Florence, has to drive for work at D’Angelos, and the gas-price increase has hit the high school senior as well.
“I have to ask my parents for money a lot,” she said, while fueling up in Easthampton, which she said has cheaper gas than Florence does.
John Erush, 54, of Easthampton, who plays guitar and sings with Angry Johnny and the Killbillies, expressed displeasure at the increase. However, while the band is not touring now, he noted that higher gas prices would not prevent them from doing so.
“We were touring when it was four bucks a gallon,” he said. “It sucks but … we’re not underwater.”
Edward Driscoll, 63, a retiree who lives in Northampton, said the increase makes it more difficult to budget.
“Absolutely,” Driscoll said when asked if this meant he might walk more, although he acknowledged that he doesn’t drive much as it is.
Bill Thomas, 64, of Northampton, sees malicious motivations behind the increases.
“The gas companies are a bunch of thieves,” he said.
He alleged that the gas companies increase the prices every year for the holiday weekend.
“They jack the prices up,” he said. “There’s no need for it. It just is all total greed.”
Robert Gougeon, 54, who co-owns the Citgo gas station and Florence Towing & Auto Repair, on 22 Main St. in Florence, said gas price increases don’t really affect the number of people who buy gas at his establishment.
“People need to drive,” he said. “They’re not going to not go on vacation.”
He also said that he saw gas go down by a “couple cents” Tuesday.
“Hopefully, we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
Higher prices don’t make more money for Gougeon, he said. That’s because he sets his price based off what he pays for the fuel, with the necessary profit margin.