Gas prices rise as peak of vacation travel, summer heat hit East Texas

EAST TEXAS (KLTV) - This week marks the largest weekly gas price increase of 2023 for the Lone Star State.

The average price of gas in Texas is currently $3.41, which is up almost $0.20 from last week.

The national average is $3.73.

There are several factors that play into the fluctuation of gas prices throughout the year, and right now a visit to the pump can set someone back quite a bit.

“It’s busy,” says AAA Spokesperson Daniel Armbruster, “It’s a very busy time of year for road trips, and then you add to that, some refinery utilization has dropped a little bit because of the excessive heat that our state is experiencing, and, of course, the gulf coast region, and so all of those factors have led to higher gas prices for consumers.”

While most people can’t avoid driving altogether, there are ways to maximize fuel efficiency and avoid frequent trips to the gas station.

“We know from AAA studies that driver behavior is the number one factor when it comes to fuel efficiency, and conserving your fuel, so that means avoiding quick accelerations, avoiding what we would call hard accelerations, and when you’re on the road, driving the speed limit, not speeding,” advises Armbruster.

He also says that what goes up must come down – the question is when.

Drivers in Smith County are paying an average of $3.38 per gallon, while drivers in Gregg County are paying an average of $3.43.

Experts expect the prices to continue increasing in the coming months.

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