The price of gas dipped this week. According to GasBuddy and as of March 28, “Average gasoline prices in Huntsville fell 4 cents in the last week, averaging $3.97 per gallon Monday.” GasBuddy surveyed 261 local gas stations to arrive at this number. Many counties in Alabama are still over $4 a gallon, according to AAA as of March 30.

Due to Russia’s attacks against Ukraine, Biden cut Russian oil imports in early March. “Today I am announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy. We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy,” Biden said at the White House. “That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.”

According to Reuters and the Energy Information Administration, the United States imported about 672,000 barrels a day from Russia in 2021. The amount of gas that the United States receives from Russia is about 8% of the total U.S. imports of oil and refined products. The percentage is low, but the reduction changes the average gas price of $3.20 and increases to $4.00 and was predicted to be over $4 until November. 

The current gas prices mean that people have less money to spend on necessities. The new gas prices can take a toll on many paychecks. Washington Post reported that when gas prices are this high, the costs of other things go up, whether those businesses are airlines or mobile dog grooming businesses. 

Many high school students have to pay for their gas and they do not like the new prices. Senior Amy Athing said, “I need to save for college. Gas prices are literally detracting from that and that will have an effect on how I spend my money next year.”

Gas prices will not go down significantly for a while, so drivers should plan where they need to go before getting into a car.