It was a slow Wednesday afternoon at the Phillipsburg QuickChek gas station. Pump attendant Colby Brown, sporting his shiny plastic name tag, had a straightforward take on drivers’ frustration over rising prices.
“They are mad,” he said, “but the world will deal with it.”
Global gas prices have soared in the past six weeks, reaching an average of $4.17 per gallon in the Easton, Allentown and Bethlehem area. In late February, prices hovered around $3.08.
The cause hails far from the Lehigh Valley. The ongoing Iran war has plugged the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point connecting the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Disruption to the strait, which typically funnels 20% of the global petroleum supply, has sent gas prices sky high.
Lafayette College students are feeling the pinch.
“At the end of the week, I’m losing more than I really, at any other time, would have hoped for,” said Jaden Wurm ‘26, whose pickup truck is running him around $100 per fill-up.
Wurm said he has three part-time jobs, which softens the financial blow.
“I’m making enough money, but that’s only because I bust my ass,” he said.
Easton native Jamie Lin ‘27 said she’s looking to rein in her spending to compensate for the bigger petrol price tag. For Lin, a commuter student who lives 10 minutes from campus, driving is non-negotiable.
“I’ve been trying to go out less,” she said. “Less going out and eating places with friends. Other than that, I just eat on campus with whatever Pard Dollars I have left.”
Lin said she typically jumps over to New Jersey for a fill-up, relieving herself of the Keystone State’s steep gas tax, but still finds the prices “pretty expensive.”
Commuter Chris Nassar ‘29, who makes a 20-mile drive to campus from Allentown on weekdays, said his parents recommended he cut back on any unnecessary driving.
“Save some money on gas,” said Nassar, who noted he goes to the cheapest gas station he can find.
Hoping to hit the brakes on high prices? There are still slim savings to be found across the Delaware — just bring cash and make sure to take the Free Bridge. Allentown’s Costco has the lowest price tag in the region at $3.79 per gallon as of Wednesday. The pumps are only available to members, however, and just getting to the store from campus might cancel out your savings.
As of Wednesday night, the first vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran and the U.S. reached a two-week ceasefire deal. However, Iran has reportedly halted oil tanker traffic following an Israeli attack on Lebanon.
Harrison Meyer ’29 and Benjamin White ’27 contributed reporting.
