LAS VEGAS - Gas is a necessity, but for vacationers like Jay DeSilva, the high priced fuel at the pump is quickly turning into a luxury.
"It's too much. I just got like $80," he said. "You know how it is. Everybody is trying to cut the cost. Right now, because of the price, we have to plan our vacation in a different way."
Traveling with a party of 11, DeSilva had to improvise once the price of gas started climbing.
"It got me by surprise when they came up so fast," he said. "About three weeks ago, you'd pay about $2.75, something like that. Suddenly, they came up, but I had the trip planned already, so we cannot cancel."
Suddenly is an understatement. The chart below tells the tale:
February 25, 2011 - $3.36 per gallon of regular unleaded
February 18, 2011 - $3.23 per gallon of regular unleaded
January 25, 2011 - $3.08 per gallon of regular unleaded
February 25, 2010 - $2.71 per gallon of regular unleaded
The numbers are quickly burning holes in the wallets of California drivers. The prices could force some to reconsider trips to Las Vegas.
"That's a lot. That's expensive," said visitor Albert Alatorre. "Compared to what we're used to, it used to only be $30 for us to fill this car up. For us to spend $50, that's a lot of money."
Drivers who commute to Las Vegas from Pahrump are also feeling the pain at the pump. "Now, it's like am I going to eat or am I going to pay for my gas? So, I pack a lunch," said Kristen Jenson, who commutes from Pahrump. "It's getting hard, and I'm sure it's hard for a lot of people out there."
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