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Pain at the pump By Damian Mann Posted May 2, 2018 at 4:44 PM Updated May 2, 2018 at 6:24 PM Liz Landon fills up Wednesday at Chevron in Medford. Landon says rising gas prices are hurting low-income families. ▲ Liz Landon fills up Wednesday at Chevron in Medford. Landon says rising gas prices are hurting low-income families. ▲ --> Accelerating gas prices have hit wallets hard lately, particularly for low-income families in the valley. "It's heartbreaking," said Liz Landon, a 46-year-old Medford resident. "When you're living paycheck to paycheck, what do you do?" According to AAA, the average price of regular is $3.307 a gallon in Jackson County, far higher than the nationwide average of $2.81, or the statewide average of $3.213. The all-time high for Jackson County was $4.379 on July 11, 2008. Landon works at a local school, and she sees firsthand how difficult it is for many families to absorb increases in gas prices. "It comes down to whether you want gas or groceries," she said. Prices are closing in on 2014, when the average nationwide price of regular was $3.70 in April, though experts don't expect that big of a surge this year. "It will likely creep up another 5 cents to 20 cents before Memorial Day," said Marie Dodds, spokeswoman for AAA. She said the only caveat is world events, which have been known to shake up the crude oil markets in the past. A number of factors are behind the hike in gas prices. There has been greater demand for gasoline over the past year because of the economy, with the country now consuming close to 10 million barrels a day, an amount more typical of summer months, Dodds said. More consumer demand for sport utility vehicles and crossovers has added to demand, she said. Crude oil prices have been hovering at $65 to $69 a barrel versus $19 a year ago. OPEC, Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, has agreed to cut production for the rest of the year. "That helped put a bit of upward pressure on oil prices," Dodds said. Jackson County continues to have some of the highest gas prices in the state, and Dodds said that is partly attributable to how far our market is from pipelines. "Getting product to certain parts of the West Coast costs more," she said. California gas, which is often the most expensive formulation in the country, is also routinely shipped to other Western states, causing higher prices, Dodds said. Another factor driving up prices is the June 1 switchover to summer blends, which are formulated to not evaporate as easily, but which also can reduce the miles per gallon for a given vehicle, Dodds said. Despite the average high of $3.30 in the county, many local gas stations still posted prices lower than the county average. Landon, who was filling up at Chevron on Barnett Road for $3.299 a gallon, said it now costs her $42 to fill up versus $34 three years ago when she bought her vehicle. Brenda Conway, a 68-year-old Applegate resident, said she drives her Buick 50 miles a day so she can work to supplement her Social Security income. "I work a low-wage job," she said, alarmed that the price of gas has gone up 4 cents a gallon in the past week. "We're pretty much held hostage to gas prices." Conway was filling up at Chevron because she said she hopes to improve her fuel economy with a better grade of gas that cleans out her fuel system. Still, she's seen the price to fill up her car go from $35 to $42 in the past few months. Harry Dalbec, a 71-year-old Medford resident, said he bought his Chevrolet Trailblazer about a year ago. "It figures that once I got this thing, the prices would go up," he said. He was getting gas at the Astro Station on Riverside Avenue for $3.119 a gallon. "I kind of figure they'll get the prices back up to $4 a gallon," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . Most Popular Suspects sought in Shady Cove deer attacks Apr 28 at 6:12 PM Jackson County sees startling spike in opioid overdose deaths Apr 28 at 4:24 PM Spring Gold: Tips on finding morel mushrooms from people who know Apr 29 at 2:00 AM Two arrested, toddler removed from suspected drug RV Apr 27 at 5:55 PM Asante wins Level II trauma status Apr 30 at 2:01 AM UPDATED: Man found dead outside Medford antique store identified May 2 at 8:04 AM Guest Opinion: Get ready for your 'pack a day' of summer smoke Apr 29 at 2:01 AM Davis tops in lawyers' poll for circuit judge Apr 27 at 5:45 PM Shady Cove man accused in second marijuana theft case Apr 30 at 3:56 PM Airfare wars mean cheap tickets to Seattle, LA Apr 28 at 2:01 AM Justin Dan Rollins May 1 at 2:00 AM Review: Quadruple-talented actors carry OCT's 'Once' May 1 at 5:52 PM © Copyright 2006-2018 Rosebud Media LLC. All rights reserved. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com ~ P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501