This could be one of the most expensive Memorial Day weekends in recent memory thanks to rising gas and grocery prices.
The average price per gallon of gas in Minnesota is currently $4.21, compared to last year’s average of $2.83. Even compared to one month ago, gas prices per gallon have risen over 30 cents in Minnesota.
Memorial Day travelers in Minnesota may reconsider their up-north trips, or at least try to carpool to save money on gas.
Still, Minnesota’s average is lower than the national average of $4.60 per gallon, as of May 26, per AAA.
Counties in both northern and southern Minnesota have the highest prices across the state, with northern Lake County’s average at $4.29 and southern Dodge County at $4.33.
The state average is dangerously close to breaking the record for highest-ever gas price, which was $4.27 in 2013.
Diesel in Minnesota hit its highest average ever this month: $5.32 on May 11, 2022.
Gas prices on average in the Midwest have gone up 42% since April 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average price per gallon in April of this year was $4.00, compared to last year’s $2.81.
Diesel fuel prices specifically have gone up 61% since April 2021 in the Midwest region.
Nationally, gas prices have gone up 50% in the last year.
Prices of groceries, specifically meat, and other goods are also immensely higher looking at year-over-year averages. In the Midwest since last April, the price of ground beef has increased by 26%, bacon by 20%, ham by 17% and chicken breasts by 27%.
Bananas and oranges have increased in price by 10%, potatoes by almost 15%, tomatoes by 17% and coffee by almost 28%.
Food prices overall have risen 9.4% over the last year, according to the USDA.
Earlier this month, a poll showed that 72% of small business owners increased their prices in order to stay open.
The Daily Caller reported in April that only 31% of those polled approve of the president’s handling of inflation, and Americans are more concerned about inflation than with the job market.
Rose Williams
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
