Community Corner
Syria Conflict, Labor Day Weekend Travel Boost Gas Prices
The statewide average for unleaded gasoline in Michigan is $3.62 as of Thursday.
The threat of possible U.S. military intervention in Syria is causing crude oil prices to rise this week and analysts say it may cause gas prices to temporarily increase as well.
According to the Los Angeles Times, gasoline prices rose 1.8 cents a gallon on Thursday, the biggest one-day jump in a month.
Though Syria is not a large oil producer, the fear is that the conflict could spread across the Middle East, the newspaper reports.
AAA Michigan shows the current average price for a gallon of regular gas in the state this week is $3.62, 36 cents less than it was this same time last year.
More than 1.2 million Michigan residents are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, which is up about 1 percent from last year, according to AAA. About 91 percent of those are expected to drive.
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