Auto club: Gas prices have topped $3 for 1,000 days

{mosads}AAA said that the average price of gas has been above $3.50 per gallon for the majority of the 1,000 streak that was achieved on Tuesday. In addition, the organization said that average gas prices have been higher than $3.25 per gallon for 643 days and more than $3.79 for 189 days during that span.

Darbelnet said paying more than $3 per gallon for gasoline for so long has caused motorists to cut back in other areas of their budget.

“Motorists took notice when gas prices crept past $3 per gallon,” Darbelnet said. “Spending more on gas concerns consumers because it reduces savings and spending for everything else we need. Our leaders can help alleviate this economic burden by encouraging a national policy that stimulates production, limits price volatility, ensures greater efficiency and promotes alternative energy.”

AAA said the national average gas price first rose above $3 on the weekend of Sept. 3-5, 2005, following Hurricane Katrina. The association said the previous longest stretch with average gas prices higher than $3 per gallon was 244 days between Feb. 17 and Oct. 17, 2008.

The auto club said that the national price of gas was last less than $3 per gallon on Dec. 22, 2010, which was the conclusion of a 796 day stretch the organization attributed to the weak economy at the time.