By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com
July 10, 2008
Regular gasoline has sold at or above $4 a gallon for more than a month, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Consumers have paid $3 a gallon or more for the past year.
Energy experts do not expect the price to gasoline to go down anytime soon. The U.S. Energy Department predicts that $4 a gallon gasoline will continue through 2008 and perhaps 2009.
"For the remainder of 2008, pump prices are projected to remain well above $4 a gallon," according to government analysts.
In the short term, prices have fallen back from the record of $4.108 set July 7, dropping almost a half a penny to $4.104 a gallon.
One month ago regular gasoline sold for $4.043 a gallon and one year ago regular gasoline cost an average price $3.000 a gallon throughout the country. Gas Prices have increased almost 40 percent since last summer.
Over the long July 4 weekend, U.S. gasoline consumption dropped 3.3 percent, declining to a level not seen since 2003.
The cost of a gallon of diesel continues to rise, setting a record at $4.814. Diesel is selling for more than $5 in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii and New York.
Consumers in Alaska pay the most for regular gasoline $4.613 a gallon. California consumers are not far behind at $4.540.
Missouri has the cheapest average price for regular unleaded at $3.896 a gallon.
Here is a look at some gasoline prices from around the country in the ConsumerAffairs.Com Gas price Round Up.
California: Regular gasoline has lingered near the $4.50 mark for 30 days, now averaging $4.54 throughout the state.
One year ago regular gasoline sold for an average price of $3.35 in California.
Regular gasoline sells for $4.564 in Los Angeles, $4.526 in San Diego, $4.598 in San Francisco and $4.625 in Santa Barbara.
Texas: The average gasoline price in the state is hovering near record levels at $3.967. One year ago Texans pad an average price of $2.885 for regular gasoline.
Regular gasoline sells for $3.963 in Amarillo, $3.965 in Dallas, $3.936 in Houston and $3.961 in Austin.
Florida: Regular gasoline sells for $4.066 through the Sunshine state. That is just under the all time record price of $4.071 set July 9.
Regular gasoline sells for an average price of $4.086 in Daytona Beach, $4.148 in Miami and $3.987 in Orlando.
