Continued political conflict in Libya is affecting more than the nation alone, as the United States experiences a spike in gas prices.

Though Libya is not the main source of oil for the United States, oil investors are worried because nearby Saudi Arabia is, said Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst from GasBuddy.com. Libya has experienced political unrest since mid-February as protestors in the country try to overthrow longtime leader Moammar al Gadhafi.

‘It is essentially because of speculation,’ DeHaan said. ‘Investors speculate that oil production could be affected, so prices go up.’

Syracuse gas prices increased an average of 16.4 cents per gallon last week, according to a recent SyracuseGasPrices.com update. The average unleaded gas price in Syracuse was $3.619 as of Sunday, whereas the national average was $3.479, a slight drop from the day before, according to the latest posting on the website.

Although Syracuse has experienced a spike in gas prices during the last week, some students said it will not affect their driving habits.

Kelly Helmuth, a junior inclusive elementary and special education major, said she fills up every time she goes to the Mobil station on Nottingham Road near South Campus in hopes that it will last her a while. Her gas usage probably will not differ much with the recent price change because she needs to drive, Helmuth said.

‘I drive with an objective — I have to go to work, I have to get groceries,’ Helmuth said.

But some students said they haven’t noticed the spike.

Jeff D’Andria, a first-year student affairs counseling master’s candidate, said he didn’t notice a gas price increase when he most recently filled up his gas tank. He said he usually drives about five days a week to get food and groceries in the area.  

D’Andria said the rise in price would not make him change his gas consumption.

‘I chose to drive across country this summer to get here,’ said D’Andria, who drove to SU from California. ‘For me, it was a better option than a plane ticket. I would still do it.’

Luke Tabet, 21, of Syracuse, works at the local Mobil station near South Campus. He said people have still bought gas, even with the high gas prices, but the prices have affected the number of customers who come into the Mobil store.

‘When it went up to $3.69, it was definitely a slower day but not for gas specifically,’ Tabet said.

He said from watching the news, he gathered the price change was because of Libya and that prices might continue to rise for a bit longer.

With roughly 4,800 student parking permits sold, it doesn’t seem gas prices will stop consumption on campus, said Al Sauer, director of the parking and transit services department. The sales of parking permits have not wavered much in the past few years, he said. 

Sauer said he doesn’t think the recent spike in prices will have much of an effect on vehicle usage, although he suggested students combine errands to reduce the number of trips or use mass transit when available.

The disconnect between rising prices and drivers’ concerns and consumption may be because the economy is on the rise and employment is improving, said DeHaan of GasBuddy.com.

‘The economy is improving, demand is rising, and people are using more gasoline because they are either going back to work or spending more money,’ DeHaan said.

Local gas stations are used to fluctuating prices, but places that rely on using gas for services are not used to adjusting to the higher prices. Because of this, DeHaan said local gas stations will not be affected as much as delivery companies that sell pizza, for example.

‘At this point, with gas prices just beginning to spike, some businesses have adapted,’ DeHaan said. ‘But if prices continue to increase, it could start to have an effect on the local economy.’

bquaglia@syr.edu

Published on March 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm