New Hampshire gas station slashes prices to $2.38 per gallon
The steep drop in price was part of an event to draw attention to the cost of inflation.
The steep drop in price was part of an event to draw attention to the cost of inflation.
The steep drop in price was part of an event to draw attention to the cost of inflation.
At Simon’s Market in Littleton, New Hampshire, the gas price dropped to just $2.38 per gallon on Thursday for an hour and a half.
The steep drop in price was part of an event hosted by Americans for Prosperity, a fiscally conservative group seeking to draw attention to the cost of inflation on the average American.
“This is part of our national True Cost of Washington Tour,” said Greg Moore, State Director of Americans for Prosperity. "People are getting crushed right now by the high costs of inflation.”
The adjusted price of $2.38 per gallon is less than 50% of the average cost of gas throughout the country. It was also done for a specific reason — It was the average price of a gallon of gas when President Joe Biden was sworn into office, a year and a half ago.
“Ultimately, we’re trying to give people a little relief,” said Moore.
Hundreds of people lined up for hours to fill their tanks. Several said the pinch of inflation has caused them to have to rethink their driving habits.
“We can’t go anywhere; we can’t do anything; we have to conserve,” said Diane Cook, a Conway resident. "This is a break for me along with probably a lot of people behind me.”
Simon's Market sold over a thousand gallons of gas at a reduced price during the hour and a half period. Americans for Prosperity said the difference in price is paid for by thousands of donors around the country.
“A lot of people who are on fixed incomes or low incomes, those are the people who are coming out,” said Matthew Simon, the owner of Simon’s Market. “We wanna give relief to people who really need it.”
People were ecstatic with the price on Thursday.
"If prices would be like this every day, it’d be so nice,” said Amy Smith, a Stewartstown resident.
“I don’t remember the last time I bought it for this price,” said David Sargent, a Bethlehem resident.
Despite the political statement behind the fire sale, one University of Vermont professor says gasoline prices are a complicated combination of circumstances and policy.
“When something is scarce, the price goes up,” said Marc Law, a University of Vermont economics professor.
Law said higher prices are a telltale sign that more supply is needed. The current cost of gas also encourages people to economize and use less gasoline than they would when prices are low.
“Sadly, there are no simple answers,” Law said. “You can't really blame just one person or one body or one group for what we're experiencing right now.”