Drivers in New Jersey are heading into the Labor Day travel period with gasoline prices nearly $1 higher per gallon than they were a year ago.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in New Jersey is about $4.04, compared with about $3.06 at the same time last year. That is an increase of roughly 98 cents per gallon.
For drivers filling a 15-gallon tank, that difference adds about $15 to the cost of a full tank compared with last year.
The higher prices come just as many families prepare for Labor Day weekend travel, one of the busiest driving periods of the late summer season. New Jersey’s major highways, including the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, typically see increased traffic as residents head to the Shore or travel out of state.
The Trump administration has also taken steps aimed at easing gasoline prices nationwide. Reuters reported that the Environmental Protection Agency will end certain summer-blend gasoline requirements early this year, beginning September 1 instead of the usual mid-September transition. The administration says the move could increase fuel supply and help lower prices.
However, analysts cited by Reuters said the effect may be limited in some states unless additional regional fuel restrictions are also relaxed. New Jersey was specifically mentioned as one of the states where broader changes could be needed for consumers to see a more noticeable impact.
The White House is also pushing the EPA to consider additional waivers for small refineries, which would reduce some biofuel blending requirements. Supporters argue that this could lower refinery costs and ease pressure at the pump, while opponents, particularly in agricultural states, warn that the changes could hurt farmers and the biofuel industry.
For now, New Jersey motorists are paying substantially more than they did last summer, making fuel costs another factor for families planning holiday travel.
Sources: AAA Gas Prices, Reuters
By NJ RADAR Team