Gas Prices Continue to Climb in Spite of Pipeline Reboot

When the Colonial Pipeline reopened last week after a shutdown resulted in skyrocketing prices and a fuel shortage, experts said things would return to normal in “a few days.”

Yet a few days have come and gone, and — as of Monday — the national per-gallon average was $3.04, data reveals. That marks the highest gas has been in more than six years.

Prices are especially high in the Southeast, which is on the tail end of deliveries, according to the AAA. “The Southeast will continue to experience tight supply this week as terminals and gas stations are refueled,” says AAA rep Jeanette McGee.

“Over the weekend, gas prices started to stabilize, but are expected to fluctuate in the lead up to Memorial Day weekend.” Leading the pack are Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where the per-gallon average climbed 21 cents over the past week, McGee notes.

“This is going to be an expensive summer for motorists,” she says.