Gas prices rise in August to highest level in almost a year

Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that inflation in August went down by 3.7% for the second month in a row (compared to 3.2% in July). The gasoline index contributed the most to the increase in prices (which were 10.6% higher than in July).

According to the American Automobile Association, gasoline cost an average of $3.80 per gallon in August, the highest it had been since mid-2022.

How does the increase affect citizens?

At Voz Media, we spoke with some people who live in Miami, Florida. They told us how the fluctuation of fuel prices affects their daily lives. The cost of gas in The Sunshine State is lower than the national average (currently $3.57). However, they also expressed how the increase is affecting them, They said they felt overwhelmed by the situation and the instability of costs.

Barbara Perez, a Venezuelan mother who lives in the Miami Gardens area, said she felt overwhelmed by the general increase in prices: "It is a rollercoaster, there is no stable price which makes it impossible for one to make a budget based on what one earns monthly (...) with 40 dollars I barely get half a tank."

Joshua Mendoza, a Venezuelan journalist, said that in the month of August, he spent an extra $100 on gasoline to be able to commute to work: "I went from spending $300 last month to $400 on pure fuel to go to my work and drive from Miami Beach to Doral (...) It's something that's not stable or controlled."