ToplineAt least seven states across the Southeast U.S. are experiencing gas shortages Tuesday, and the national average gas price creeped toward $3 a gallon, as the Colonial Pipeline Company works to restore its fuel pipeline system, but some experts warn panic buying gasoline could be exacerbating the problem and the fuel supply should remain intact through this week. While most states are experiencing shortages from the pipeline outage, fuel shortages in Florida could stem from panic buying; the state has been mostly unaffected by Colonial’s outage, yet AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins told the Tallahassee Democrat consumers are “actually creating the shortage of gasoline” because they are “seeing reports about the Colonial Pipeline outage and are rushing to the pump.” North Carolina Gov. Brian Kemp (R) suspended the state’s gas tax to counterweight the increase in gas prices for drivers and the Department of Transportation temporarily revoked rules to allow fuel truck drivers to increase their hours along the pipeline. That’s how long it’s been since U.S. average gas prices creeped as high as $3 a gallon in 2014. Here’s Why A Cyberattack On A Pipeline Company Has Experts Worried Prices Will Stay High (Forbes)Don’t panic during latest gasoline crisis, experts say (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)Fuel shortages crop up in Southeast, gas prices climb after pipeline hack (Washington Post)

Source: Forbes May 11, 2021 18:45 UTC