By: William Bradley
From businesses to students, rising gas prices are straining budgets, disrupting routines, and amplifying the cost of everyday life.
Charlie Bosworth, CEO and founder of D.A. Bosworth Company has struggled with gas consumption and the increasingly high costs it can take on a construction company like his.
“In construction we are very limited to materials, we are in a high-risk industry, and we don’t have the luxury of having a fluctuation clause in our contract. With the last administration, fuel went up about 70%, so in some projects at the time, we were losing money for about two or so years, whether that be products, shipment, and anything related to the work site and vehicles”. Charlie Bosworth said.
Bosworth said theirs a fluctuation clause in place set to accommodate for changes in gas costs, However, D.A. Bosworth does not have one, and now faces financial hardships with gas pricing.
He is not the only one struggling with these factors.
According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average price of gas across the U.S. was calculated at $3.30 per gallon in 2024, which was down 6.1% from 2023, and down a staggering 16.4% from 2022. Even with gas decreasing in average cost, there is still an emphasis on how these recent years all inflict issues for companies, students, and every person across the United States.
D.A. Bosworth’s CEO said depicted solutions from government officials like switching to electric powered vehicles would be too costly, and cause difficulties.
“It is incredibly expensive for electric vehicles, and they are not advanced enough. Our company has built some of Amazons electric charging stations, and the cost Amazon goes through to plug these trucks in, I could buy two new gas-powered trucks. It isn’t cost effective, and we must manage with gas prices,” Bosworth said.
Companies are not the only area struggling, commuter students at Stonehill College said gas prices are taking a major bite out of their wallets.
“During this semester I probably spend around $50 a month on gas, but I’m not on campus as much this semester. Other semesters I’ve spent probably $70-ish on gas. I think the rising gas prices can affect students in getting needed school supplies and some daily necessities,” Laci Schlatz said.
Laci is just one of the many commuters facing this same struggle, with Sophia Thomas, a junior, saying the cost is taking a financial toll.
“I probably spend about a grand a semester. Every Sunday I pay $65 to fill my tank, it’s having a huge impact. Some people are a commuter due to financial resources, so it makes it even worse when you’re paying $65+ to fill a tank. It’s the same amount as the school’s meal plan pretty much,” Thomas said.
Some students who aren’t commuters but find the need to travel on occasion are also suffering the costs.
“I only take my car on occasion off campus, but when I need to fill my gas tank, I find it ridiculous the cost for the time I use,” said Kyle Mercier.
Companies like Exxon Mobil, with over 12,000 gas stations across the country, are finding themselves in a tough position. Darren Woods, the CEO of Exxon Mobil told CNBC of the effect of increasing oil productions under the Trump administration.
“I don’t think today that production in the U.S. is constrained. I don’t know that there’s opportunity to unleash a lot of production in the near term,” Woods said.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and state lawmakers report there is an immediate demand being met in the upcoming quarter of 2025, reducing gas bills 5% after consumption prices have caused issues for major corporations such as Eversource, National Grid, and more, furthering the proof of gas pricing issues for corporations across the state.
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