The continued surge in gas prices is certainly hurting the wallets of residents of the Twin Cities and beyond.
Recent posts in local community groups on social media have only highlighted the frustration and worry people are feeling along with the expected financial pinch. One man posted a photo in the Discussing Fitchburg Now page the morning of Tuesday, May 5 showing the price of 87 unleaded gas at $4.79 a gallon at station in the area and there were many strong responses to it.
“Thank the orange guy,” one woman commented and another person posted a meme of President Donald Trump pointing his finger up featuring the words “I did that!” — an image that has made its way to stickers that have appeared on gas pumps all over the region and beyond.
A May 4 article posted by The Hill reported that on average gas prices have risen by more than $.30 a gallon in the past week “as the U.S. military began efforts Monday to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.”
“The national average price of a gallon of regular gas is more than $4.45 as of Monday, according to AAA,” the article stated. “That is more than 34 cents higher than a week ago and more than 35 cents higher than a month ago.”
That tracks with information on the AAA website that details current gas prices on average by state, with Massachusetts coming in at $4.39 as of May 5.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella noted that “there is no escaping the fact that it has to have some impact” in local residents’ businesses “and their families.”
“It certainly has made a difference with so many hybrid and electric vehicles,” he said, adding “I think most families have the prioritize and in some cases that means cutting back on travel and other leisure activities.”
A call put out in Twin Cities community Facebook groups on Tuesday morning requesting input from residents about the issue garnered laugh reactions from some, but for most people it’s not a laughing matter when it comes to the reality of how high-priced gas is affecting them in very tangible ways.
Leominster resident Diana McMillin said she and her family are certainly feeling the pinch. Her husband recently had to go back to working full time in the office in his government contractor role at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford after working remotely since the fall of 2024 “because they were remodeling the office.”
“Then they just stayed remote until Trump came into office and a few months later the generals made them all come back but there wasn’t even room for them all,” McMillan said, adding her husband had doctor’s note to work from home following an injury this past October but “now he’s better so he’s back to work.”
“It’s just so ironic that the week gas prices started to surge was the week his doctor’s note ran out,” she disclosed.
The 62-mile round trip commute in his Honda Civic that is “good on gas thankfully” has resulted in an extra $40 per week in gas that they have had to work into their budget.
“Means packing lunches and drinks every single day to save money,” McMillin said of them navigating the increased cost.
Kalli Redmon said she has seen gas at $4.60 a gallon and “in Worcester it’s more.” The former Fitchburg resident who moved to Princeton to be closer to her job at the Over Easy Cafe in Sterling also said that she went to the Walmart in Leominster on Monday and got gas across the street for $4.49.
“I definitely won’t be getting my Water Country season pass this year because of how much gas is,” she said. “Might have a few beach trips in me, but that’s it. It’s crazy. $60 barely fills my SUV when $40 was too much last year.”
Leominster resident Michelle Bosco Chiarenza said she appreciates the opportunity to provide her viewpoint.
“I just hope it helps,” she said. “Having a one income family and trying to afford gas [and] juggling bills and which to pay is a huge obstacle and I am struggling.”