In early March, many Brooklyn residents began noticing a sharp increase in gas prices, driven in part by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The price of gas across the country on Thursday exceeded $4 per gallon, an average not seen since August 2022, according to data from AAA. In Kings County, gas is averaging $4.063 per gallon as crude oil prices surpass $100 per barrel, as the war with Iran continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
As gas prices climb, Brooklyn residents are looking for ways to cut expenses and manage their budgets.
Melvin Faulkner and his wife, Kishawna Faulkner, who live in East New York, said the steady increase in gas prices has significantly affected their household.
Kishawna, who drives a compact SUV, said the cost to fill her tank has nearly doubled.
“Before the increase in gas prices, it would take about $34 to fill up the tank, but now it costs roughly around $60,” Kishawna said. “With the gas increase and pairing it with tolls to commute to work in Far Rockaway, Queens, every day, I had to cut back on leisure spending just to maintain my budget.”
She said she has stopped buying lunch and instead brings meals from home, avoids unnecessary stops, and limits her routine to commuting between work and home.
Melvin, an EMT who drives an ambulance for two different companies, said his employers are managing fuel costs in different ways.
One company supplies gas cards for every ambulance, and the second company has a standing contract with two different gas stations for employees to get gas.
“However, I have noticed that since gas prices have gone up, the volume in the calls we have to answer has also gone up, so at the end of the year, the company can receive a bigger tax write-off," he said. “The more jobs we do, the more the company gets paid from those transports, and they are really on top of us to finish one job and go to the next job more than before, and I’m assuming they have to break even somewhere.”
Now, for every ambulance transport, the pay is either covered by insurance per mile or by the hospital if it's within the same network, he said.
Other drivers are turning to rewards programs and apps to offset rising costs.
Kahlil Haywood, an East Flatbush resident, said he uses promotions to save on gas.
“For T-Mobile carriers, Just Fuel Rewards is a rewards initiative for customers, where every Tuesday, they will receive discounts on gas, saving 15 cents off the gallon,” he said.
Haywood, who drives a compact-to-midsize sedan with a V6 engine, said the cost to fill his tank increased from $48 to $60 and requires premium fuel.
Kishawna Faulkner said she also uses Gas Buddy, an app to find cheap gas.
“Using these apps is helpful, but [it] has now become a conscious decision to make sure to use them every time I stop at the gas station," she said.
Other drivers are also turning to membership-based retailers, such as BJ’s Wholesale Club and Costco, to find lower gas prices.
