Gas prices hit $5 in Philly as President Trump pushes tax relief

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00]prices increasing nearly 40 cents in the last month alone. And so now, President Trump says he wants to pause the federal gas tax to provide Americans some relief at the pump. And he'll need some help from Congress to do so. This is the 10:00 news. I'm Jason Martinez. Thanks for joining us here tonight. Well, there it is. In our area, you got PA467 a gallon, Jersey at 452, which is the national average, too. Uh, and Delaware at 434 a gallon. Our Joanne Pelgi live in Northern Liberties here. And Joanne, while the PA average is about 467, some spots in Philly already seeing $5 a gallon.

[00:00:37]Uh that they were Jason, over five bucks a gallon in Philly. We were in Northern Liberties earlier. Now we're over here in Cherry Hill. And that is true. We have all felt the impact of these significantly higher prices at the pump.

[00:00:52]They've jumped about a buck 50 since February. Well, now the president says he has a plan. In the interim, folks are doing what they can, trying to do what they can to find the most economical way to fill the tank. Gulp. True sticker shock at the gas pump in Philly. A gallon now over five bucks at this Luke oil on Delaware A. It's about 50 cents more than the national average.

[00:01:18]>> Yeah, last week I feel like I was looking at signs. It was more like 469.

[00:01:21]and it's just like amping up every time I come by um like a different gas station.

[00:01:25]>> With her hybrid work schedule, Anna Negron is doing less driving and she's cutting back elsewhere.

[00:01:31]>> Anything less would be ideal than what we're paying now right now is outrageous.

[00:01:34]>> Gas prices are higher than they've been in several years. The blame squarely on the closure of the Straight of Hormuz amid the monthsl long war in Iran. Now, President Trump is proposing a temporary suspension of the federal taxes we pay on gasoline, about 18.5 cents per gallon.

[00:01:55]>> How long are you supposed to suspend that tax?

[00:01:58]>> Uh, till it's appropriate. Yeah.

[00:02:00]>> Mr. President, >> it's a it's a you know, it's a small percentage, but it's a, you know, still money.

[00:02:05]>> If that happens, and it would seemingly require congressional approval, it would shave a few bucks off the price to fill up. Darnell Wright is a small business owner and he says customers are simply cutting back now.

[00:02:18]>> I'm a Republican. I'm American. Um, America's first. Um, I did vote for Trump. Um, I believe in some of his policies do work. Um, but the gas prices thing and the war with Iran, um, we didn't vote for that. Um, and we want change.

[00:02:35]>> Folks are doing what they can to save, like taking the bridge to Jersey and buying at places like Costco. I only do it once a month. I have a hybrid car.

[00:02:45]It's an easy commute for me from Philly to here.

[00:02:49]>> I mean, I think people need a break, so suspending a tax would be great. You got to get to Costco definitely helps because it is a lot cheaper than some of the other places, but this is a big van.

[00:02:58]So, it was about $100 to fill it up.

[00:03:01]And, you know, we're a church organization, so it's really we're feeling the pinch a little bit, >> aren't we all? So, what will the president do? What will Congress do?

[00:03:11]Well, who knows? Uh, we know what happens in Washington with the D's and the Rs, and some say they're for it, and who knows, they might fight for a while, and we might not see the suspension and the federal gas tax. Maybe the president decides an executive order is in order for this. By the way, gas was over five bucks a gallon in Philly, over here in Jersey at Costco. Not doing an ad for them. I don't own shares of Costco, but I like the store. I filled my tank 425 a gallon over here in Jersey. So, I'm not the only one. And a lot of people are crossing the bridge, paying the five bucks to cross the bridge, driving three and a half miles to Cherry Hill and uh filling the tank over here. Got to do what you can, right?

[00:03:56]>> And then you don't even have to pump it, right? Somebody else does it for you in Jersey. So, >> so true.

[00:04:00]>> A little bonus right there. Yeah. All right, Joanne. Hopefully relief for everybody coming soon. Appreciate it.