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A necessity for most students and faculty, the rising price of gas is impacting many in the PCC community.As of Tuesday, the price of oil rose to an average of $130 a barrel, according to MSNBC. That’s an increase of $67, compared to last May’s $63 a barrel.

At the pump, the price of gas has reached a record high of an average of almost $4 a gallon, for regular gas. Last year, it was only a few cents over $3, according to CNN Money.

“It’s too high, it should be lower . It should go back [to the price of] 2 years ago,” said PCC student Tonnell Rodrigue, 22.

Rodrigue drives a 2000 Toyota and used to spend $30 a week. He now spends about $40.

Other students, who also spend $40 or more to fill up the tank, have also felt the impact.

“One word: ridiculous,” said Linda Tran, 20.

Tran drives a 2006 Toyota Corolla and also spends an average of $40 a week to fill up her gas tank.

Gloria Pratt, 20, drives a Ford Ranger and spends $50 a week, but expects that to go up to $60.

“It doesn’t make any sense . it’s unfair that gas companies are doing this,” she said.

Nalin Silva, manager of the Chevron gas station on Colorado Boulevard, explained that it is up to the company to decide the prices. “We go by whatever they tell us,” explained Silva.

The prices have gone so high, that customers at the gas station went over $100 to fill up their tanks. Coming from nearby cities, such as Alhambra, to PCC can be costly.

“Even one city over seems like a lot of gas . its outrageous,” said Rodrigue.

For Pratt the price of gas also affected her Memorial Day weekend. She had plans to go to Arizona but due to the high price of gas, her plans were cancelled. “There goes my Memorial Day weekend,” she said.

Some can manage to find an alternative for driving, but others can’t. “I need it,” said Vanessa Jeldi, 18, who drives a ’96 Mercedes Benz, as she was filling up her gas tank.

Although prices are changing constantly, on Wednesday the price of regular gas reached $4.23 for regular gas at Chevron.

As for the outlook of gas prices in the future, “it’s a financial dropdown . it’s getting worse,” said Silva.

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