Average price of gas surpasses $5 a gallon for first time in U.S. history

Average U.S. gas prices crossed a once unthinkable threshold on Saturday, surpassing $5 a gallon for the first time in U.S. history to further pinch Americans reeling from the impacts of soaring inflation.

The auto club AAA announced the new milestone as evidence emerged across the country that rising fuel prices on President Biden‘s watch were becoming a political liability for Democrats heading into the midterm elections and altering Americans summer plans.

Polling showed a majority of voters now blame Democrat policies for the soaring fuel prices and were altering life plans from travel to retirement.

Rasmussen Reports said it’s latest national survey found that 57% of Americans say the rising price of gasoline has affected their summer vacation plans.

Republicans immediately pounced on the new milestone, seeking to tie it to Biden’s climate change policies.

“Biden promised to eliminate oil and natural gas, now families are paying the price for his anti-American energy agenda,” the Republican National Committee tweeted. “Biden’s solution? Force Americans to drive less or buy an expensive electric vehicle.”

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm tried to sound a more positive note, acknowledging the next few months we’re going to be difficult but that gas prices could drop in the fall.

“There will be some relief on the horizon, but during the summer driving season, it is going to be rough, no doubt about it because we have such a demand and supply mismatch on the global market for oil,” she said.

But Alfredo Ortiz, president of the small business group Job Creators Network, said rising gas and food prices were altering behavior in a long-term way, forcing Americans to borrow money just to keep afloat and changing the arc of the economy.

”People are now starting to borrow on their credit card to live everyday life. This is a big concern, because disposable income is just not going to be there,” he told the Just the News,Not Noise television show Friday night.