The latest incident happened as nationwide gas prices have plateaued and many experts predict them to drop. But on the September 7 broadcast she claimed, Lawmakers fear drivers are being ripped-off at the gas pump. Since Katrina, prices have risen 46 cents to a new high of $3.07 a gallon. That has prompted senators to call emergency hearings.
Chens error comes one day after she and Hannah Storm both misstated the national high. Chen stated, [1] Since the storm hit, almost 70 percent of normal oil production has been shut down. And that, of course, has had a dramatic effect on gas prices. According to AAA, gas has gone up 75 cents. That puts the average cost of regular unleaded at $3.20 a gallon. That was one day before the new high of $3.07.
In fact, average gas prices stayed at $3.04 a gallon according to AAAs Fuel Gauge Report [2]. Chens claim of $3.07 would have been a new high for 2005 and just four cents away from the inflation-adjusted record high of $3.11 set in the early 80s.