Gas prices continue to rise in Bellingham heading into Labor Day weekend.
The average price for a gallon of gas in the Bellingham metro area was $4.19 on Monday, Aug. 27, according to AAA Washington. That’s up three cents from Sunday and up 40 cents compared to a month ago.
Bellingham has the highest gas prices among major metro areas in the state. Seattle is the next highest, at $4.05 a gallon. Spokane has the least expensive, at $3,80 a gallon.
The record high for Bellingham was set in June 2008, at $4.50 a gallon.
Bellingham’s diesel price averages $4.40 a gallon, up 36 cents from a month ago.
It is a given now that oil companies automatically raise our price at the pump during holidays when citizens hit the roads and before the smoke clears after a refinery fire.
And that ladies and gentlemen is why oil companies make up six of the ten most profitable companies in the world.
Congestion on our roads and in our stores, and the highest gas prices in the State, all thanks to Canadians. Many in the community and Ken Oplinger tout that Canadians boost our economy by creating jobs and adding $1-2 million in sales taxes that keep certain services going and parks open. But our gas tax revenue seems to go to Seattle, while our roads are overcrowded and falling apart. I’m sure I could do without the services that extra million provides, everyone would still keep all their jobs in Bellingham (since our population has increased enough to support the stores in Belllingham), and we could have less headaches on the roads, at the pumps and in the stores.
Bordergeek is right on except he may not have said it all. The 1-2 million (1 million is a huge gap) would have to be the total sales tax and our area would receive a small piece of that. Remember that, in large part, property taxes and not sales taxes pay for infrastructure changes and maintenance.
Consider the 2007/2008 Washington State Attorney General’s stating that the “rack price” of retail gasoline was the same up and down the Washington coast. Per the report, the Bellingham area price disparity was driven by Canadian purchases. So, we subsidize the Canadian retail trade if we buy gas around our home. It appears to be around 14 cents right now for every gallon.
And I still haven’t said it all…
Yup, gas in Burlington can be 30-40 cents a gallon less than up here. Just fill up while doing your Costco run, win-win.
Bandit,
The lowest gas price today listed on gasbuddy [dot] com in Burlington is 3.87 and 3.92 in Bellingham.
5 cents.
Enjoy the drive.
We get nothing for the privilege of sucking down tons of pollution from the refineries at Cherry Pt and Anacortes. Oil CEO’s should have to fear for their safety.
I just returned from a trip to the Midwest. Chevron gas was $3.49/gal.
Whats the problem ?
Obama is on the record that he wants $10.00/ gal. Just stop all new drilling on Federal lands and pump up your tires.
I just read that gas prices are expected to go even higher because of Hurricane Isaac. The oil companies must be drooling with anticipation.