- June 24th, 2011
- Jackson Parker
US Taps Domestic Oil Reserves, Gas Prices Expected to Drop
Oil prices sharply declined to their lowest level in four months after the United States and 27 allies announced that they are planning to release 60 million barrels of crude oil from reserves. Increasing the nation’s oil supply could lower gas prices as much as 50 cents a gallon, but relief at the pump is still several weeks away.
The purpose of tapping the oil reserves is to boost the global economy. The US is hoping to avoid another recession, as recent sky-high oil and gas prices have been contributing to the slow economy.
Gas prices have skyrocketed in recent months, surpassing the $4-a-gallon mark in May. Though gas prices have decreased since their recent peak, today’s national average price for regular unleaded is still over $3.61 a gallon, which is more than 87 cents above gas prices one year ago, according to the AAA Fuel gauge Report.