Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin is calling on Attorney General Maura Healey to investigate the sudden spike in gas prices.The average price of regular, unleaded gas climbed 8 cents overnight and is now $4.24 per gallon, according to AAA. That’s a new record high. Gas stations said they are feeling the pinch, too, blaming the crisis with Russia. Gas station owners saying they’re passing on increased costs from wholesalers.However, some state officials question why prices vary from one gas station to another. Galvin said the Russian crisis should not impact the price of gas now because that fuel was bought weeks ago.Galvin is calling on Healey to investigate, saying the attorney general can review the books of retailers and wholesalers to determine if the prices are based on fair profit or gouging.Healey’s office has not indicated if it plans to pursue an investigation. Healey, a Democrat, is a declared candidate for governor. A spokesperson with the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation told NewsCenter 5 that the state’s Division of Standards conducted unannounced inspections of 75 service stations across the commonwealth between March 1 and March 4.During those inspections, DOS compliance officers issued three civil citations and three written warnings. The spokesperson said the division will continue those inspections since it ensures compliance with laws governing price advertising and ensures that products such as gasoline meet certain standards of content and performance.Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty called for Beacon Hill to take action and temporarily suspend the state’s tax on gasoline. He suggested that the state’s $0.24 gas tax be suspended until prices drop below $3.70 per gallon. “We need relief from the skyrocketing prices across the board, and the state has a clear way to help by putting a holiday on the gas tax during this current crisis. This would provide an instant savings to our families trying to make ends meet,” said Doughty.The State House News Service reported that Baker hinted he might be looking at the gas tax as an option last week when asked what the state could do to ease the impact of inflation. “If we were to do something short-term, that would probably be the place we would go,” he said.
Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin is calling on Attorney General Maura Healey to investigate the sudden spike in gas prices.
The average price of regular, unleaded gas climbed 8 cents overnight and is now $4.24 per gallon, according to AAA. That’s a new record high.
Gas stations said they are feeling the pinch, too, blaming the crisis with Russia. Gas station owners saying they’re passing on increased costs from wholesalers.
However, some state officials question why prices vary from one gas station to another. Galvin said the Russian crisis should not impact the price of gas now because that fuel was bought weeks ago.
Galvin is calling on Healey to investigate, saying the attorney general can review the books of retailers and wholesalers to determine if the prices are based on fair profit or gouging.
Healey’s office has not indicated if it plans to pursue an investigation. Healey, a Democrat, is a declared candidate for governor.
A spokesperson with the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation told NewsCenter 5 that the state’s Division of Standards conducted unannounced inspections of 75 service stations across the commonwealth between March 1 and March 4.
During those inspections, DOS compliance officers issued three civil citations and three written warnings. The spokesperson said the division will continue those inspections since it ensures compliance with laws governing price advertising and ensures that products such as gasoline meet certain standards of content and performance.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty called for Beacon Hill to take action and temporarily suspend the state’s tax on gasoline. He suggested that the state’s $0.24 gas tax be suspended until prices drop below $3.70 per gallon.
“We need relief from the skyrocketing prices across the board, and the state has a clear way to help by putting a holiday on the gas tax during this current crisis. This would provide an instant savings to our families trying to make ends meet,” said Doughty.
The State House News Service reported that Baker hinted he might be looking at the gas tax as an option last week when asked what the state could do to ease the impact of inflation.
“If we were to do something short-term, that would probably be the place we would go,” he said.