The latest national inflation numbers show a 3.2 percent jump in consumer prices in July, led by increasing prices at gas pumps. In much of central Kentucky, gas prices jumped 20 cents a gallon. That’s not welcome news for motorists like Dylan Dinello of Versailles, whose Toyota GR-86 requires premium unleaded. He said he thinks twice before hitting the highway.
“100%. Definitely take fewer trips. I mean, it's just when you think about everything else that's getting expensive, too. It's kind of hard to focus on everything. You know what I mean?”
At the Kroger fuel station in Versailles Friday morning, premium unleaded cost 4.30 a gallon, while regular unleaded was $3.60. The latest hike’s also a problem for people like Julie Moran of Versailles, who Door-Dashes part-time and said she’s tempted to drive to Nicholasville or Lawrenceburg, where gas is often cheaper.
“I looked at the gas the other day and it was $3.59 I was like, ‘What?’ It was $3.30-something the other day, you know? It. It just It surprises me. Whenever I drove by a gas station, I looked at the prices. I'm like, why is it keep going up?”
A spokeswoman for AAA-Bluegrass said one factor in the recent jump is the widespread heat wave that forced some refineries to close for a few days.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
