By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com
July 9, 2010
After leveling off in the run-up to the Independence Day holiday, U.S. gasoline prices have continued to fall, with the national average price down nearly four cents a gallon in the last week.
Today's average price of self-serve regular is $2.713 a gallon, down from $2.750 last Friday, according to AAA. The price is now back to where it was one month ago.
The average price of diesel fuel is $2.957, down from $2.982 last week.
Once again, consumers are benefiting from what appears to be excess supplies, both real and perceived. Commodities traders remain skeptical about economic growth, which would translate into a softer demand for oil and gasoline.
The Energy Information Administration, in its weekly report, noted that while oil stockpiles declined in the preceding week, gasoline supplies actually rose, increasing by 1.3 million barrels last week.
"These gasoline demand and supply numbers suggest the price outlook and broader US economic picture remains murky and uncertain," said Andrew Delmege, AAA's manager of regulatory affairs.
The states with the most expensive gasoline today are:
Alaska ($3.496)
Hawaii ($3.482)
California ($3.143)
Washington ($3.010)
Nevada ($2.940)
Oregon ($2.909)
New York ($2.889)
Idaho ($2.885)
Utah ($2.877)
Connecticut ($2.867)
The states with the least expensive gasoline today are:
South Carolina ($2.478)
Missouri ($2.516)
Alabama ($2.544)
Tennessee ($2.544)
Virginia ($2.565)
Texas ($2.569)
New Jersey ($2.587)
Georgia ($2.589)
Louisiana ($2.593)
North Carolina ($2.608)
