The price of gasoline may have peaked, at least temporarily, just in time for the traditional kickoff of the summer driving season.
That may be small solace, however, as the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area was $2.35 on Thursday. According to AAA’s daily survey, the statewide average was just under $2.31 a gallon.
Both are all-time highs.
But the high price of filling up and hitting the road is not expected to deter many travelers during the long Memorial Day weekend.
“Traditionally, even when gas prices are higher or going up, people – besides complaining about it – normally still do their thing,” said AAA spokesman Dave Overstreet.
AAA is predicting a record 36.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the weekend, with all but 6 million of those traveling by vehicle. That’s an increase of 3.6 percent more than Memorial Day travel in 2003, Overstreet said.
For those who are traveling, Overstreet had one bit of welcome news: Lodging and dining costs are down, on average, from last year. AAA’s survey shows lodging prices are down about 6 percent nationally, while dining prices are down about 2 percent.
“That might help compensate for some of the higher fuel costs,” he said.
While weekend fun will cost more, the sustained high prices for fuel are rippling through businesses and agencies. Trucking companies and businesses that deliver products can add surcharges, but that’s not an option for nonprofit Sherwood Community Services of Everett.
“We’re just struggling to keep our heads above water,” said Timothy Hornbecker, executive director at Sherwood.
The biggest effect is on the organization’s therapists who visit children and their families around Snohomish County.
“We’re trying to group families together more for visits, or do things at a (central) location, but a lot of our families have children who are medically fragile and can’t easily meet outside the home,” Hornbecker said.
To combat lower enrollment at the organization’s child care and preschool center, Sherwood has planned a summer day camp program with numerous field trips. Those trips will be affected, he said.
“It will impact how far we can go on those programs,” Hornbecker said.
There are signs that gasoline prices may not go up much more, according to the federal Energy Department and AAA.
The regional and statewide averages for gasoline were virtually unchanged Thursday from the previous day, according to AAA. That followed daily jumps in the prices over the past few weeks. AAA’s national average of $2.05 for a gallon of unleaded was actually down slightly.
Additionally, the price of crude oil retreated Thursday. U.S. crude for July delivery fell $1.26 to $39.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That was a welcome change after oil hit a 21-year high of $41.85 last week
U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said extra oil supplies may come from Mexico, Nigeria and Russia in the near future. Saudi Arabia also has announced plans to increase crude oil production significantly in June.
Overstreet said AAA is reminding its members to shop around for the best gas, and to make sure vehicles are tuned up and tires are properly inflated, which can increase fuel efficiency.
Of course, having a fuel-efficient car is the best way to keep gasoline costs down. For example, driving from Seattle to Spokane in a new Honda Accord would cost $21.23, according to AAA, while the same trip in an all-wheel-drive GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle would cost $45.54.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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