Iowa’s Pump Price Puzzle

In recent months Iowa has seen a huge fluctuation in gas prices. In terms of regular gas, prices have been as high as $4.02 and as low as$ 3.38. On average, the state of Iowa gas prices fluctuates around $3.52 (Peterson, 2023). This price isn’t as bad as it looks, when looking at states like California, they have seen prices as high as $5.89 (Romeo, 2023).

With such a fluctuation in gas prices it can be hard on people to fill up their tanks. Drew Bessey, a Morningside University alum, says that the gas prices have caused him to not drive as much. In his day-to-day commute, he does his best to carpool to and from work.

Working with children Bessey tends to have to drive children to and from. With gas prices on the rise he finds himself forced to pay whatever the pump demands. When this happens he tends to keep the recepit and have his work pay him back for what they owe him.

Another Morningside student said that gas prices have caused him to stop driving his truck altogether. Jackson Perrine says the only time he will drive his vehicle is if he needs to drive home to Sutton, Nebraska. With Jackson driving a truck, him having to drive home and back will cost him almost $150.

In 2022 Kim Reynolds signed a bill that mandated most Iowa gas stations sell fuels with higher ethanol blends. The bill mandates that gas stations must sell gas with a 15% ethanol blend, this fuel is known as E15. Although this bill has been put into place, the effects won’t be seen until 2026. This in hand leads to cheaper fuel prices. The more local corn we use in our fuel, the cheaper our fuel will be.

According to J.D Power the average person spends anywhere from $150 to $200 per month. With people already spending an increase amount of money on groceries, having to pitch in an extra 20-50 dollars a month can seem like a lot.

Professor Muzinga, a Morningside business teacher said that the steady incline in gas prices will continue for weeks to come. With war erupting over seas and our gas supply chain constantly at risk, the cost of gas will continue to increase. In Muzingas professional opinon, as long as we rely on other countries for our gas prices, we will never truly be in control of our fuel prices.

Not only has Iowa seen a fluctuation in gas but the entire United States has seen historic fluctuation in gas prices. The largest factor to the fluctuation in prices is the oil supply. According to EIA any disruptions to crude oil supplies, refinery operations, or gas pipeline deliveries can result in fluctuating fuel cost.

Aa gas prices are always going to be something that affects our day to day lives. Weather that is our day-to-day commute, or maybe planning a road trip. Gas prices will always affect how we go about our everyday lives.