COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Drivers in Colorado Springs have noticed gas prices coming down, but many say it is not enough to ease sticker shock at the pump.
At the Shell station at Austin Bluffs and Academy, regular unleaded is selling for $3.54 a gallon. Gas Buddy shows prices hovering between $3.50 - $3.80 across the Colorado Springs area as of Tuesday.
Regular gas is below $4 a gallon in many places across Colorado Springs, but several stations are still charging well over $4 a gallon, including the Maverik and Circle K on North Carefree Circle east of Powers.
Hear what some drivers we spoke with on Tuesday had to say
About a month after some drivers described adjusting their schedules and raising rates because of fuel prices, commuters say prices are down — but still not enough.
Michele Kissam, who has been driving cross-county on Highway 24 for 9 years, capped her tank fill-up at $20 on Tuesday, saying prices are still too steep to justify a full tank.
"I live an hour east out here in Ramah," Kissam said. "There's not really a ton of jobs where I live, so I have to come into town. It's all I can afford right now, with the prices. It's so expensive right now."
Josh Aguilar commutes in the opposite direction, filling up once or twice a week to visit family, go to the grocery store and see friends.
"My family lives an hour away so I have to commute there. Go to friends' houses as well, the grocery store, so it adds up."
Even with gas prices dropping, Aguilar said he is still reducing unnecessary time on the road.
"I've definitely had to cut down on trips here and there."
Simon Luna said the price at one location stood out compared to others he had seen.
"They're still too high I would say… This spot in particular is the only place that I've seen that's getting to a reasonable price."
Leonard Harper said he would welcome a continued decline.
"I'd like it to go down, I don't drive very much, but I'd like it to go down."
One driver who preferred to stay off camera said people's gas budgets probably won't change much until prices drop back to where they were at the start of the year.
Not all drivers shared the same frustration. Retiree Don Anderson said he does not take trips unless he has to.
"I believe gas prices are gonna go down," Anderson said. "The gas prices, I ain't worried about, cause I know they'll drop."
One driver who preferred to stay off camera said people's gas budgets probably won't change much until prices drop back to where they were at the start of the year.
According to AAA, across Colorado, the average is $4.17, while the National Average sits at $4.16. That's down roughly 20 cents since last week, according to AAA.
As crude oil sits at roughly $88 a barrel as of June 9, that is helping prices cool off compared to the nearly $100 prices seen in late May.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and parts of it have been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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