Labor Day Gas Prices Hit Record High in Rhode Island

Rhode Island drivers are facing record-high gas prices this Labor Day weekend. According to NBC affiliate WJAR, the average price of regular gasoline is about $4.21 a gallon, which is more than $1 higher than it was on Labor Day last year.

The national average for regular gas is around $4.14 a gallon, while diesel has climbed to record levels, averaging about $5.85 a gallon nationally and $5.75 in Rhode Island. In Massachusetts, the average price of regular gas is about $4.18 a gallon.

Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast, attributed the high prices to crude oil costs, which are currently trading around $90 a barrel due to supply concerns and disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz.

As a result, drivers are looking for cheaper options. Membership-based stations like BJ's can offer lower prices than the state average, but those prices still add up for drivers. Warwick driver Brian Fay told WJAR that his recent fill-up cost him almost $90, while Cranston driver JDL Martinez said he paid $81, the most he's ever paid for gas.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) does not expect a meaningful decline in prices anytime soon, advising drivers to save money by comparing gas prices, keeping tires properly inflated, and reducing excess weight in vehicles.