Gas prices in Massachusetts hit new record high of $5 per gallon

NEWTON, Mass. — It’s official, Massachusetts has hit $5 a gallon. Overnight, AAA is reporting the average went up another four cents.

According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Bay State is $5 a gallon. Prices have gone up 26 cents in a week, when the average was $4.74 a gallon. A month ago, drivers were paying $4.35 a gallon. A year ago, prices were $2.93 a gallon. For a while now, Governor Charlie Baker has been pushing for the gas tax to be suspended, which would take off 25 cents a gallon.

“That would make a huge difference for a lot of us folks, the fishermen, and everybody else who relies on those products to do their jobs and that should be part of the conversation right now,” said Governor Baker.

But Senate President Karen Spilka argues it wouldn’t make that much of a difference. She pointed to Connecticut, where they suspended their 25 cent gas tax and prices in that state are still averaging $4.89 a gallon.

“There is nothing that we can do to mandate that if we decrease or suspend the gas tax that it actually goes into the pockets of those at the pump because the oil companies can keep that gas tax and not pass it on to individuals purchasing gas,” said Senate President Spilka. “So we are looking at other forms of assistance and tax relief for working families.”

Instead House and Senate leaders say they are going through the governor’s $700 million dollar relief plan and creating relief packages that will aim to help residents in several ways.

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