A popular nationwide gas station chain is slashing its prices for a limited time ahead of the Labor Day weekend.
The Circle K chain of gas stations and convenience stores announced Wednesday that it is slashing prices by 40 cents on September 1 in an effort to give back to customers who struggled during the summer travel season. The deal is part of a series of offers taking place throughout the month. The offer also follows a difficult time for consumers, who have altered their driving habits to cope with gas prices that are still incredibly high.
“On Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, Circle K, the global convenience store chain, is offering 40 cents off per gallon of fuel between 4 and 7 p.m. local time during Circle K Fuel Day,” Circle K said in a statement, via Business Wire. “At over 3,600 Circle K branded fuel locations across the U.S. in advance of the Labor Day holiday weekend, customers can fuel up for the unofficial last weekend of summer and receive the deal directly at the pump.” The deal applies to participating Circle K stations that sell Circle K-branded fuel.
“It’s been a challenging summer for travel, so we want to thank our customers for their loyalty by offering them additional savings ahead of the busy holiday weekend, ending the summer on a high note,” Nathan Woodland, Circle K’s Head of North America Category Fuels, added in the company’s statement. “Our Circle K Fuel Day will also kick off an entire month of deals inside our stores.”
Gas prices have dropped steadily in recent weeks after soaring to record highs earlier this year, but prices are still significantly higher than they were when President Joe Biden took office. The Biden administration has attempted to claim credit for the falling gas prices, but the current national average of $3.84 is still nearly $1.50 more than it was when Biden took office.
The Energy Information Administration noted, via The Daily Wire, that the national average stood at just $2.39 in January 2021. Despite the Biden administration trying to take credit, one of the most significant causes for the price declines has been a decline in gas demand.
According to a survey from AAA, almost two-thirds of Americans, 64%, reported changing their driving habits to cope with rising prices, including 23% of Americans who reported making “major changes.” Most drivers said they were simply driving less, while others said they were combining errands, reducing dining out, putting off major purchases, skipping vactions, or putting away less money for savings.
Circle K’s offer also follows moves by local gas stations to give back to their communities by engaging in competitions to see who can offer the lowest price. In late July, neighboring gas stations in Virginia slashed their prices below $3 a gallon as part of a “friendly competition” to help their communities. The GB station in Altavista, Virginia cut its price for a gallon of gas all the way down to $2.83, while the neighboring One Stop Mart cut its price to $2.99.
In August, at least five gas stations in the town of Hastings, Minnesota cut their prices by about 60 cents below the statewide average, prompting drivers from neighboring areas to flock to the town to buy the discounted gas.