From food truck owners to food delivery workers, everyone is bracing for the rise gas prices as the conflict overseas continues to impact the global oil supply.
AUSTIN, Texas — If you are filling up on gas, you are probably seeing the prices continue to climb fast. And, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the state average is almost $1 more than what it was a month ago.
Prices at some stations around Austin are even creeping closer to $4 a gallon.
From food truck owners to food delivery workers who pay out of pocket to get meals to and from restaurants, they all are looking at the gas station board. Some with no choice but to eat the cost.
Viviana Lopez is having that sentiment as she continues to conduct business out of her food truck, Mi Zacazonapan Taqueria, parked on Braker Lane.
In Spanish, she said that she has had the business for five years and had never dealt with such a rapid spike in gas prices. Lopez said she paid about $100 more in gas than she did just two weeks ago.
According to AAA, the average for gas stands at $3.48 as of March 17. That is up 97 cents more from a month ago, yet still far below the record high of $4.69 that was recorded in 2022.
In the Austin-San Marcos area, the average is $3.53 a gallon as of March 17.
As Lopez brought food and supplies to and from her food truck, she said she has been filling up more on gas recently too.
Her attitude about it is to keep on moving forward, fueling up hungry guests at the gas station her food truck sits on.
Marilyn Anguiano, in another part of town, is delivering pizza and fuels her own tank to make it happen.
“We pay for our own gas. We take care of our own cars,” Anguiano said. “Last week I was paying $1 less. I am not happy having to pull up and put some more gas in my car right now.”
She drives a hybrid and her employer covers some of the mileage, Anguiano said however, she only gets paid so much delivering pizzas.
“I mean, $20 got me through the week delivering pizza. Now, I’m looking at double that,” Anguiano said.
Economists warn that gas prices may continue to climb as the conflict with Iran and attacks on the Strait of Hormuz continue.
Experts with the price-tracking company Gas-Buddy said that conflict is also impacting diesel prices. They said that affects things like shipping costs and will do so until the conflict overseas ends.