SEATTLE — Gas prices went down a penny overnight, but many drivers are still reeling from the effects of the longest streak of rising gas prices in four years.
"Today, I'm going to Fall City. Next week I'm going to Green Lake. I live in Issaquah," said Steve Platter.
Platter is a contractor, so commuting is his job.
He got some relief at the pump in January, when he saved $200 on gas.
"I noticed that all of the sudden my family could eat again,” he said, halfway kidding. “It was a wonderful thing to be able to buy food."
But the pain is back.
At the Grange Supply on Northeast Gilman Boulevard, a gallon of regular is going for $3.23.
The general manager says the price is high because they sell the more efficient, ethanol-free gas.
Down the road, the Arco was selling regular unleaded at $2.87 a gallon.
Unleaded at the Chevron and a Shell across the street is $3.09.
KIRO 7 looked online at AAA Washington gas prices and found gasoline in those communities has gone up .60 cents in one month.
The average price for a gallon of unleaded in Seattle is $3.
Tacoma's average is slightly lower at $2.96, and Bellingham is slightly higher at $3.02.
But keeping things in perspective, gas was much more one year ago.
A gallon of regular was $3.61 a gallon.
Retiree Chris Keele keeps that in mind.
"It could be a lot worse,” he said. “I remember a while back it was costing $120, $130 to fill the truck up. Now, it's $80, $85,$90.”
Several apps, such as Gas Buddy, compare prices wherever you are.
Gas Guru is another free option.
AAA says the recent refinery explosion in California is partly to blame for the rise in prises. So are the labor strikes in seven states, including in Washington in Anacortes.
And suppliers cut production as they switch from winter to summer-grade gasoline.
KIRO
