Very few know about inflation and fewer care about knowing but when Americans might have to start paying 2,000 dollars more in gas a year, it’s time to care.  

Not only is the US getting hit with almost record-breaking inflation rates, but the words “empty gas” flashing on the car dashboard are now terrifying as well as depressing. Instagram feeds filled with gas price memes, Twitter buzzes with who to blame, and family group chats rant on. Passing by a gas station crossing fingers, and no longer seeing the numbers go as low as three dollars is heart-wrenching, making all stations America’s number one enemy.

Families all over the nation are already experiencing economic drops and scrimping on luxuries. 

It is easy to sympathize with parents who, having the best educational outcomes for their children in mind, chose a school far from home who now find themselves paying almost double for gas.

Parents are starting to encourage their children to take public transportation to school or to get a job. Scooters and bikes are very IN now. 

Even getting comfort food from Uber eats costs more. They are now charging “temporary fuel surcharges” because of the increase in gas prices. 

But why?

The sudden surge in fuel prices was caused by sanctions and regulations against Russia which is the world’s 3rd-largest oil producer, and stopped them from moving its oil.

Prices are known to rise drastically and quickly and drop slightly and very slowly. Prices barely dropped as of last week, down to $4.34 a gallon. Don’t be fooled; that  number is still higher than it was one year ago when the average cost for a gallon was $2.86.

Cars line up for miles waiting at the pumps of Costco discount gas.

Uber drivers and people who work in the car industry literally need gas to make money, and when the daily gallon starts costing minimum wage, it gets tough when they are looking at an extra $50 or $60 a day.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is pushing up gas prices at the same time outside inflation related to the pandemic has driven up the cost of many other goods.

When gas prices go up, every other product costs more as all imports and exports require transportation to be moved around.

The Labor Department reported earlier this month that consumer prices soared 7.9% in February  and that was before the war between Russia and Ukraine sent global prices even higher as it impedes the world’s access to energy supplies.

It’s scary to think that what is now expensive, time will make look cheap. It’s time to care. A few cents more may seem to not make a difference or at least an insignificant difference, but be alarmed, a little goes a long a way.