A new Congressional report showed that skyrocketing gas prices caused New Yorkers to shell out an additional $880 a year for gas than what they paid in 2001.
The report, which Congressmember Carolyn Maloney commissioned and the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Government Reform prepared, says that New York City drivers will spend an extra $250 million per month compared to 2001 and statewide that number is an extra $560 million.
“These gas prices are outrageous, and they seem to be the result of a failed energy policy,” Maloney said, referring to President George Bush's energy plan that passed in May 2001. “President Bush's energy policy of the past five years has taken the price at the pump in the wrong direction.”
However, consumers are starting to see some relief at the pump, with average gas prices in New York City on Tuesday, August 29, falling to $3.16 and New York State at $2.98, nearly $.14 less than last month, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, which surveys self-service stations throughout the country.
Although prices are on the decline, the current prices are still $.40 more than the prices this time last year.
With the Labor Day weekend approaching and travel expected to increase, Queens residents can utilize the Internet in order to sniff out the best deals on prices in their area. Websites including www.gasbuddy.com and www.gasprices.com allow consumers to enter their location and a list of the cheapest gas in their area will appear.
On Tuesday, August 29, The Queens Courier did a search on www.gasbuddy.com for the cheapest gas in select areas of Queens and came up with these results:
Bayside
Mobil on Clearview Expressway and Northern Boulevard $2.99
Flushing
Savvy Fresh Meadows Lane and Eastbound Service Road I-495 $2.97
Jamaica
Atlas Merrick Boulevard and 108th Drive $2.95
Long Island City
Lukoil Van Dam Street and Gale Avenue $3.14
