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Beyond the 806

Fuel prices at record Labor Day high in US thanks to Iran War and refinery issues - AP News

Fuel prices at record Labor Day high in US thanks to Iran War and refinery issues - AP News

Gas prices hit a record high heading into Labor Day weekend, with the national average for regular unleaded reaching $4.14 a gallon, nearly a dollar more than the same time last year, according to AAA. That tops the previous Labor Day record of $3.82 set in 2012.

That tops the previous Labor Day record of $3.82 set in 2012. The jump is tied to the ongoing Iran war and refinery problems that have squeezed supply heading into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

For people here in Lubbock, that kind of number hits at the pump every single day. Whether you're driving Loop 289 to work, hauling out to the South Plains for the weekend, or just making the run from Tech Terrace to the South Plains Mall, there's no avoiding it. West Texas is car country, and there's no workaround when gas costs this much.

The practical math is simple: a 15-gallon fill-up that cost roughly $48 last Labor Day now runs closer to $62. Families who planned road trips are rethinking them, and some, like one Philadelphia resident quoted by AAA's data release, spent most of the summer staying close to home instead of taking their usual weekend drives.

Common questions

What is the average gas price this Labor Day weekend?

The national average for regular unleaded hit $4.14 a gallon heading into Labor Day weekend, according to AAA. That beats the previous Labor Day record of $3.82 set in 2012 and is nearly a dollar higher than the same time last year.

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