Soaring gas prices squeeze Labor Day road trippers in the Tri-State
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- With a record Labor Day travel rush underway, drivers across the Tri-State are facing some of the highest gas prices in the country, adding fresh pressure to holiday budgets and forcing some families to rethink road trip plans.
Gas prices have climbed sharply ahead of the holiday weekend, with regular gasoline averaging $4.25 a gallon in New York City, $4.21 in Connecticut, $4.16 on Long Island and $4.09 in New Jersey. AAA says prices are being driven higher by the ongoing war with Iran, rising oil costs and tight domestic fuel supplies.
Despite the pain at the pump, today is expected to be one of the busiest days of the Labor Day travel period, as millions of Americans take to the roads for the final major getaway of the summer.
AAA Northeast says the national average for regular gas is $4.08 a gallon, while GasBuddy reports drivers could see gasoline prices at or above $4 a gallon nationally on Labor Day for the first time ever.
Experts say higher crude oil prices and shrinking inventories are putting upward pressure on fuel costs nationwide. The Northeast continues to rank among the most expensive regions for drivers, with only California and Hawaii posting higher statewide averages.
Eyewitness News reporter Lindsay Tuchman is live in Ridgefield with what travelers can expect as holiday traffic ramps up.
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