Where Gas Defies the Laws of Gravity

It is a well-known fact that what goes up must come down—unless, of course, it’s the price of gasoline in Nevada, in which case the natural order of the universe takes a holiday. While the rest of the nation enjoys a delightful phenomenon known as lower gas prices, Nevada has boldly refused to partake in such foolishness.

Why should we follow the herd when we can march proudly in the opposite direction—right into the loving arms of highway robbery?

According to the fine folks at GasBuddy, the national average for a gallon of gas has daintily plopped itself at $3.09. Over at AAA, they are feeling more generous, setting the average at $3.139. But here in Nevada?

Oh, no. Here, we scoff at such trivial numbers. Our gas prices have chosen a loftier existence this week, climbing 7.6 cents to a comfortable, aristocratic $3.66 per gallon, says GasBuddy, and a downright majestic $3.767 per gallon per AAA. Some might call this an outrage.

We, the proud citizens of Nevada, call it Tuesday.

Now, one might wonder—how does this happen? What divine force compels Nevada gas prices to behave like a hot-air balloon when the rest of the nation is sinking like a rock?

Are we dealing with a supernatural phenomenon? Is there some secret cartel of mischievous oil barons meeting in the back rooms of Vegas casinos, cackling over our misery?

Or perhaps the state enjoys the reputation of being that one guest at the party who refuses to leave even after the lights are off and the host has gone to bed. Whatever the reason, Nevadans have learned to accept their fate. We’ll keep shelling out for overpriced gasoline while our neighbors in the Midwest start seeing their prices drop.

But worry not, dear fellow citizen. We are a hardy people, a resilient people.

And when the day finally comes that our gas prices do go down, rest assured we will celebrate the occasion properly—by waiting in line for hours to fill up before they rise again the next morning.