By ERIC MORATH
The State News
Gas money is not going as far as it used to for Mindy Malkowski.
“Usually about $10 will get me where I am going,” the psychology and art history senior said while pumping gas Wednesday at Clark, 1120 Grand River Ave. “But it does not anymore.”
For Malkowski and other Michigan motorists, the cost of gas has increased 5.8 cents this week for self-serve regular unleaded gas, according to AAA Michigan’s Fuel Gauge survey. The average cost of gas in Michigan is $1.53 a gallon - an average of 20.5 cents more than this time last year.
“What we are seeing now, continued high prices, is a result of two different factors,” AAA Michigan spokesperson Jim Rink said.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ talk of a crude oil production cut has pushed barrels to about $29 apiece. In addition to OPEC, the cold weather causes heating oil prices to go up, especially in the Northeast, Rink said.
“That has a domino effect across the country,” he said.
According to AAA, prices have not been at $1.25 a gallon since August 1999, which Rink said is because of demand and low inventory.
“Basically all of 2000 was marked by price volatility,” he said.
Market demands are not the only factor in determining the price of gas.
“Usually we do gas surveys and go by the prices of other stations in the area,” said Teresa Rodriguez, an employee at Speedway, 1301 Grand River Ave.
Rodriguez said business remains busy despite any influx in gas prices, burdening many students who are already short on cash.
“I don’t like to drive as much now, and I have no money so (higher prices) doesn’t work out well for me,” kinesiology junior Sarah Machemer said as she was filling up Wednesday at Marathon, 1435 Grand River Ave. “I take turns driving with friends to class.
“I don’t even go to movies anymore because it is too far and takes a lot of gas.”
Higher gas prices are particularly hard on residents who are used to various forms of transportation.
“During the summer I tried to rollerblade or bike, but during the winter there is not much I can do,” Holt resident Amanda Craft said.
Steve Odren agrees.
The packaging senior said he feels helpless when trying to find cheap gas.
“I would wait till I see a better deal, but usually I go to the most convenient place,” he said.
“It would be neat to see cars run on something other than gasoline.”
Eric Morath can be reached at morather@msu.edu.
