Soaring Gas Prices On Memorial Day Weekend

Above, the gas pumps at the Flying J in Jamestown, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before heading off to the Gallup Flea Market yesterday, I stopped at the Flying J to check my mail and fill up the Mustang's gas tank.

The price for unleaded regular gasoline at the Flying J is $2.89/gallon. With my five cent per gallon discount through my Good Sam Club membership, I paid $2.84/gallon. At least I am no longer in Los Angeles, where gas prices are around $3.76/gallon (according to GasBuddy).

Additionally, I thank my lucky stars that I got a tune-up for the Mustang before moving from California (and no traffic issues in New Mexico), because I am getting 29 miles per gallon.

Other states' gasoline prices aren't so cheap.

According to CNN Money:

Gas prices have soared, and some areas of the country are feeling it more than others. 

The sharpest price hikes have hit the Midwest. Over the past month, the average price per gallon of gas in Michigan has shot up 32 cents, more than any other state. Its statewide average recently hit $3.15, according to data from GasBuddy, a platform that tracks real-time prices at stations across the country. 

North Dakota's gas is $2.96 on average, about 29 cents higher than a month ago. And Wisconsin's gas hit $2.94 per gallon, a 28 cent increase. Wyoming, Minnesota and Ohio round out the top six. 

The national average price per gallon of regular is creeping toward the $3 mark, making it the most expensive for a Memorial Day weekend since 2014, according to the American Automobiles Association. 

Soaring gas prices can be attributed to factors like oil production cuts orchestrated by OPEC and Russia, Venezuela reducing output, and the United State's decision to leave the Iran nuclear deal.

All that may seem pretty far removed for vacationers that are hoping to kick off the unofficial start of summer relaxing at the beach. But if that beach is in California, chances are the most expensive pump prices in the country are nearby. 

The West Coast typically has the most expensive gas. Geography, high demand and clean air regulations contribute to the price per gallon. Folks in some areas, such as San Francisco, are seeing prices near $4 per gallon.

Prices at the pump haven't been this high for Memorial Day weekend since 2014, when crude was sitting in triple-digit territory.

To read more, go here.

American Airlines Cutting Economy Class Legroom

I have already written off United Airlines as unworthy of my traveling dollars, so now it looks like American Airlines will be verboten as far as I am concerned.

The reason: legroom, or the lack of it.

According to CNN Money:

American Airlines (AAL) is planning to decrease the front-to-back space between some of its economy class seats by another two inches. 

The airline says it plans to add more seats on its coming Boeing (BA) 737 Max jetliners. To do that, it will shrink the distance between seats, also known as pitch, from 31 inches to 29 inches on three rows of the airplane, and down to 30-inches in the rest of its main economy cabin. 

American isn't the only big airline heading in this direction. United Airlines (UAL) is considering a similar move, according to a person briefed on its evaluations. United declined to comment. 

The move signals a new step in the shrinking of U.S. airline cabins, and comes even as carriers are promising to improve overall customer service.

To read more, go here.