Understanding Gas Prices and Trends

Inflation has fallen in recent months and one reason may be falling gasoline prices. But that might be about to change.

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas is $3.15 a gallon, five cents higher than seven days ago. The average price is up six cents a gallon in the last month.

“We are in that time of year where pump prices begin to heat up, usually peaking around July,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “But unless something shocks the global oil market and causes prices to spike, the national average for a gallon of gas will probably stagger higher, with some flat days or even small price dips along the way.”

But something could be lurking that could cause prices to escalate faster than expected. Hostilities are increasing in the Middle East, and not just between Israel and Hamas. The conflict in Yemen is drawing in U.S. forces because of threats to shipping – primarily oil shipments.

Closer to home, there is a major outage at BP’s Whiting refinery, halting gasoline production. Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, says it is likely fuel production will stop for a couple of weeks, though he says that assessment could change with more information.. At the same time, he says gasoline demand is rising.

Where prices are rising the fastest

Prices are rising the most in the Southeast, which normally has the cheapest gas. Prices are already rising in the Midwest, a region that may feel the brunt of the refinery closure. Here are the states in the Southeast and Midwest that have seen the sharpest one-week increase in prices at the pump:

• West Virginia    + $.10

• Minnesota    + $.09

• Alabama    + $.08

• Virginia    + $.05

• Michigan    + $.04

Wyoming has the cheapest gas prices in the nation, with a statewide average price of regular at $2.68 a gallon. Oklahoma is second with an average price of $2.70.

California continues to have the highest gas prices in the nation. The statewide average for regular gas is $4.56 a gallon.

Drivers are receiving a nice gift just before the holidays. The price of gasoline has fallen to its lowest level this year after dropping every day for the last two months.

AAA’s national average price of regular gas is $3.24 a gallon, 26 cents cheaper than a month ago and 30 cents less than last year at this time. But that’s just the average. There are plenty of places where you can find cheaper fuel.

“GasBuddy now counts over 20,000 stations that are selling gasoline at $2.75 per gallon or less,” GasBuddy’s head of Petroleum Analysis, Patrick DeHaan, posted on X.

For example, the statewide average price of regular in Texas has fallen to $2.71 a gallon. The average price in Mississippi is $2.76 and $2.78 in Georgia. Eleven other states have average gas prices below $3 a gallon.

Gas remains expensive in a handful of states. California’s average price of regular is $4.88 a gallon, but a month ago it was $5.30 a gallon. The average price is $4.72 in Hawaii and $4.38 in Washington. Again, gas prices are much lower than they were a month ago.

Falling demand

One reason prices are falling is motorists are driving less. Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show gas demand decreased from 9.49 to 8.95 million barrels a day recently.

Another reason for drivers’ good fortune is the decline in oil prices. World oil prices are near their lowest levels of the year, lowering costs for refiners, who have begun producing cheaper winter grades of gasoline.

But it’s not clear if oil prices will remain low for long. Goldman Sachs says it expects an extension of the unilateral production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia to last through the first quarter of next year and could even cut more deeply.

The price of gasoline is tumbling and you can credit the bond market. As the yield on U.S. Treasury bonds has risen in recent days, gas prices have fallen.

In a post on X, Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, notes the connection.

“The surging cost of borrowing and bonds are pushing oil off a cliff… and that’s good news if you’re a fan of falling #gasprices with RBOB (Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenated Blending) down a staggering 16c/gal!” he wrote.

DeHaan notes that the price is falling, even though GasBuddy data for the first part of the week indicates U.S. gasoline demand is up 2.8% from the previous week.

Rising interest rates on government bonds are seen as an indicator that the economy may slow and reduce demand for oil. As oil prices fall, so do prices at the pump.

AAA reports the national average price of regular gas is $3.74 a gallon, nine cents a gallon less than seven days ago and six cents less than a month ago. A number of states have seen prices fall even more.

The 10 states where gas prices have fallen the most

Despite the big one-week drop, California still has the most expensive gas in the nation. Georgia has the cheapest.

Motorists are beginning to feel a little more pain at the pump as gasoline prices, stable for the last few weeks, have moved higher over the last few days.

AAA reports the national average price of regular gas is $3.88 a gallon. That’s about four cents a gallon higher than a week ago but is about the same price motorists were paying a month ago. But compared to this time last year, the average price is 20 cents a gallon more.

The average price of premium gas is $4.65 a gallon and the average price of diesel fuel is $4.58 a gallon. The prices of both have risen more than 10 cents a gallon in the last seven days.

Across the country, there is a wide disparity in price on a state-by-state basis. In California, the statewide average price of regular is $5.76 a gallon, the highest in the nation. In Los Angeles, the average price is even higher – $6.03 a gallon.

Mississippi has the cheapest gas in the nation. The statewide average is $3.30 a gallon.

Prices are rising because the price of oil has begun to rise, hitting $90 a barrel. Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to curtail production in an effort to keep prices elevated.

Domestic producers have upped their game

Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, has reported U.S. production has increased in an effort to make up for lost supply. He reports U.S. oil production is up 800,000 barrels a day from this time a year ago. Since January 2021, U.S. producers have increased their output by 1.9 million barrels a day.

That, and a couple of other factors, may put a ceiling on how high gasoline prices will rise.

 “Oil costs are putting upward pressure on pump prices, but the rise is tempered by much lower demand,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “The slide in people fueling up is typical, with schools back in session, the days getting shorter, and the weather less pleasant. But the usual decline in pump prices is being stymied for now by these high oil costs.” 

Other relief may come from refiners. Gasoline producers have begun the process of switching over to winter-grade fuel blends, which cost less than summer-grade fuel.

Motorists are beginning to feel that familiar pain at the pump again. It may not be as bad as early 2022 but the average price of regular gas appears headed toward $4 a gallon.

Currently, AAA reports the national average price of regular is $3.86 a gallon, about three cents more than seven days ago but nearly 30 cents higher than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $4.60 a gallon while the average price of diesel fuel is $4.31 a gallon.

“We appear to be at a fork in the road when it comes to which direction gas prices will take – up or down,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson.

“The summer heat that kept people home and suppressed refinery production has eased for now, so we have to look at the cost of oil to determine if the recent price climb is ending. More expensive oil will likely lead to higher prices, so stay tuned.” 

Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, said on Twitter that at this rate, prices could soon exceed the year-ago price of $3.95 a gallon. He adds that the weather in the Gulf of Mexico has been calm so far this summer, benefiting refinery operations, but that could change.

In addition to weather, demand could also raise gas prices if consumers drive more heading into fall. Government sources report gasoline demand is rising while total gasoline supplies are falling.

As a result, several states have already exceeded $4 a gallon for regular while California and Washington state already have average prices over $5 a gallon.

Here are the states with the most expensive regular gasoline:

• California     $5.16
• Washington  $5.03
• Hawaii         $4.78
• Oregon         $4.69
• Alaska          $4.49

Here are the states with the cheapest regular gasoline:

• Mississippi    $3.32
• Louisiana      $3.43
• Tennessee    $3.43
• Texas            $3.45
• Arkansas      $3.48

For consumers weary of inflation, gasoline prices have been one area of the budget that has seen a little relief in 2023. That may be about to change.

Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, took to Twitter this week to report some sudden and significant moves in prices, with some states seeing larger increases than others.

DeHaan said 20 states have seen average gas prices rise by over 10 cents a gallon compared to a week ago. Here are some of the biggest moves:

• Iowa +20 cents
• Texas +18 cents
• Georgia +16 cents
• Indiana + 16 cents
• Florida +16 cents
• Tennessee +16 cents
• North Carolina +15 cents
• Kansas +14 cents
• South Carolina +14 cents
• Minnesota +14 cents

DeHaan says some stations in some of these states have seen prices rise 25 cents to 50 cents a gallon – and they’re still going up.

"On our current trajectory, it seems the national average could rise to $3.85/gal, and we could even get close to $4/gal on the first potential of a storm aiming for the Gulf," DeHaan tweeted.

Prices are still lower than a year ago

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.73 a gallon, about 15 cents a gallon more than a week ago. But compared to a year ago, prices are relatively cheap. A year ago the national average was $4.28 a gallon.

Why are gasoline prices suddenly going up? One reason is the price of oil. A barrel of oil now costs between $70 and $80. The war in Ukraine continues to play a role in the oil market, with recent fighting damaging a major port facility.

The extreme heat, both in the U.S. and in Europe, may also be a factor. Because of sweltering temperatures, refineries have been forced to curtail operations, reducing output.

And then there’s OPEC, which has teamed with Russia to cut oil production in an effort to keep prices elevated.

Motorists hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend are likely to find a lot of traffic but gas prices that are easier on the wallet than a year ago.

AAA reports the national average price of regular gas is now $3.56 a gallon. Heading into last Memorial Day weekend the price was a dollar more.

In fact, gas prices have remained fairly stable over the last couple of weeks, in part because of concerns about a possible U.S. default, an event that would likely hasten a recession. Oil prices have actually fallen and demand for fuel has decreased.

“Despite mild weather and a less volatile economic forecast, drivers are not hitting the road and raising gasoline demand to traditional seasonal levels,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “It’s possible this is merely the lull before Memorial Day, but it could be a trend that lingers into summer. Stay tuned.” 

But demand could accelerate into the weekend. In its holiday forecast, AAA said it expects 42.3 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend. That would be a 7% increase over last year and the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000.

Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, has already noted gas price hikes in a handful of states, including Michigan, Ohio and the Chicago area.

Inching up before Memorial Day

“We'll likely see the national average price of gasoline inching up just in time for Memorial Day,” DeHaan wrote on Twitter. “We projected $3.53/gal, could be that or a penny or two higher. Most of the country will see #gasprices inching up between now and the holiday.”

Weekend travelers driving through Mississippi will find the nation’s lowest gas prices, with a statewide average of $2.98 a gallon. Driving across Texas won’t break the bank either with the average gas price $3.08 a gallon.

Consumers who drive through California will feel the most pain at the pump. The statewide average gas price is $4.80 a gallon. Idaho is not far behind with an average gas price of $4.77 a gallon.

The Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer driving season are still less than two months away but gasoline prices are already on the move.

AAA reports the national average price of regular is $3.50 a gallon, about seven cents a gallon more than a week ago. Compared to a month ago, the average price is about 11 cents a gallon higher.

“Oil prices finally crested and have now settled above the $70 per barrel mark after weeks of hovering just below it,” said Andrew Gross, a AAA spokesperson, “and gas demand is very robust. These two factors will cause drivers to see prices increase for now.”  

In fact, oil prices are starting the week well above $75 a barrel after OPEC announced a production cut over the weekend. Motorists are also driving more as the temperatures begin to warm up. 

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a sizable increase in gasoline demand in late March and its effect is beginning to be felt across the U.S. As a result, gasoline stockpiles declined last week.

Oil supplies have fallen

Last week Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported that crude oil inventories fell by 7.5 million barrels (MMbbl) to a total of 473.7 MMbbl. However, even with the decline, DeHaan points out that oil supplies are more plentiful than last year when fuel prices were much higher.

Drivers in Mississippi are enjoying the nation’s lowest gas prices, paying an average of $3.02 a gallon. Oklahoma and Arkansas both have average gas prices of $3.09.

Most of the pain at the pump is on the West Coast. The average gas price in California is $4.82 a gallon. It’s $4.30 in Washington and $4.29 a gallon in Arizona.

After a nice decline in December that gave motorists a much-needed break, gasoline prices rose sharply in January.

The national average price of regular gas is around $3.48 a gallon. A month ago, motorists paid only $3.21 a gallon. The rise has led to fears that fuel prices would resume their march to the all-time highs recorded in June.

But one industry expert says the increase may be over, at least for the moment. Posting on Twitter, Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, says the increases have slowed.

“The national average (is) now 1.1 cents higher than a week ago at $3.48/gal,” DeHaan wrote. “With oil, gasoline and distillate values sagging, we may soon see week-on-week drops in average prices.”

Hawaii has the most expensive gasoline in the U.S., with its average price of regular at $4.93 a gallon. However, that’s down from a month ago when the average price was over $5 a gallon.

California still has the second-most-expensive regular gas, with a statewide average of $4.57 a gallon. Its price is also higher than a month ago, the opposite of the nationwide trend.

Texas has the cheapest prices

Texas has the cheapest gasoline this week. The statewide average price of regular is $3.12 a gallon. That’s 27 cents higher than a month ago. While the increase in fuel prices may be slowing, the effects may be temporary. 

“January’s weather was relatively mild in much of the nation, which led to more drivers hitting the road. However, a return of wintery conditions in February may see a revival of seasonal driving patterns,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But with the cost of oil stubbornly hovering around $80 per barrel, drivers probably won’t catch a big break at the pump over the next week or two.”

Late winter and early spring are typically the time when refineries begin maintenance, which reduces fuel production. Assuming demand remains consistent, that can prevent prices from falling and even send them higher.

Spring is also the time when refineries begin producing summer blends of gasoline, which are more expensive – a fact that will probably confront consumers at the gas pump.

In the typical consumer’s world, most don’t think twice about gas stations and convenience stores that sell fuel being one of their cornerstones. But the number of places where Americans gas up is quadruple the number of supermarkets and more than triple the number of drug stores. 

Gas stations are completely different businesses than they were 50 years ago, when customers expected an attendant to check the oil and clean the windshield. Today, these businesses have become so integrated into a consumer’s life that they have proven to be more than just a gas station, but a one-stop, grab-and-go staple.

And Americans have their faves when it comes to these stops, too, as PaylessPower recently found it. In a survey of 1,011 Americans' opinions of 25 different brands, researchers found what’s driving this phenomenon and how faithful consumers are to their favorite fuel stops. 

The “premium grade” vs. the oil slicks

Coming in as the favorite choice to gas up was Costco. Sure, it may require a membership, but paying that doesn’t seem to make a difference.

“With locations in almost every state, Costco offers familiarity and consistency, not to mention the convenience of getting your groceries, furniture, and gas all in one place,” the researchers said. 

In the second through fifth places are Buc-ee’s, Sam’s Club, Wawa and Sheetz. The overall worst rated were Valero, Sunoco, Texaco, Phillips 66, and Citco – mostly stops where the winners outshine those locations when it comes to all the bells and whistles a convenience store concept can pile on.

Costco also won the price segment as the “cheapest” putting Shell to shame as the “most expensive.” 

The survey found that while price is important, it’s not everything. Only 16% of respondents chose their gas station based on the price and said that they are willing to spend money if they’re happy with the experience. Case in point, Wawa, which pulls the most money out of a consumer’s pocket per visit at $84.66.

“Steadfast station supporters will drive significantly out of their way to patronize their preferred station and happily part with a considerable amount of money once there,” the analysts wrote.

As far as loyalty goes for gas station customers who frequent their favorite station at least twice weekly to fill their tank or pop in for a snack, the analysts found Gulf fans to be the most loyal, visiting three times per week on average. Gulf customers were also the most consistent, with 73% of them always choosing Gulf over others.

Cleanliness and customer service are king

When it comes to having the “cleanest” perception in a consumer’s mind, Costco takes the top spot there, too, followed by Sam’s Club. But if you want to take those two out of the mix because they’re membership-driven, then it’s Buc-ee’s, Wawa, and Sheetz. 

As far as customer service goes, the survey respondents considered Buc-ee’s to be the “nicest.” Costco, Wawa, and Sam’s also did well in that segment, but it was also a category where one of the smaller competitors – Casey’s – shone with 82% of those surveyed saying it was the nicest. 

The analysts said that in the final analysis, Valero was voted in as the “meanest.”

In case you haven’t noticed, it costs a lot less to fill your car’s gas tank. The price of gasoline has consistently fallen over the last several weeks.

AAA reports the national average price of regular gas is $3.44 a gallon, three cents a gallon less than Thursday. Compared to one year ago the average price of regular is just seven cents a gallon more.

The average price of a gallon of gasoline is now below $3 in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Oklahoma. It’s right at $3 a gallon in Louisiana and Missouri.

So what’s happened since the average price hit a record high of $5.01 a gallon back in June? It’s not that Americans are driving less.

This week’s report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows demand for gasoline held steady at 3.2 million barrels a day last week. At the same time, refineries were busy producing more motor fuel.

Supplies are increasing

Government data show total domestic gasoline stocks rose by a little more than 1%. With demand the same, there is less pressure to send prices higher.

But how low can prices go? Many industry analysts think prices at the pump can continue to fall throughout the holiday season, helping motorists cope with rising prices elsewhere.

“The next 60 days look really, really hospitable for consumers,” Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for OPIS, told the Wall Street Journal.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, also expects gas prices to continue falling, holding out the possibility of a national average price of $2.99 a gallon by Christmas.

“All the metrics look very positive for motorists as this week is likely to continue seeing falling gasoline prices, with many areas falling to the lowest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February,” DeHaan said.

What about that invasion?

But what about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, which sparked international sanctions on Russian oil sales? At the time, there were fears that if Russia couldn’t sell its oil it would lead to worldwide shortages.

It hasn’t worked out that way. Russia has found new customers in the non-Western world so the total supply of oil has remained fairly stable. Currently, the price of U.S.-produced WTI is around $80 a barrel after rising well over $100 earlier this year.

China has also kept oil prices from rising very much. The government there has shut down economic activity in several major cities in an effort to stamp out COVID-19. That has led to a reduction in Chinese oil demand.

And, there’s more good news. The price of diesel fuel, which has remained stubbornly high, has also begun to fall. Just over a month ago the government reported the U.S. had just a few weeks' supply of diesel on hand. Since then refiners have stepped up production.

The national average price of diesel is still over $5 a gallon but has declined by 18 cents a gallon in the last 30 days. Economists warned that if diesel fuel prices continued to rise it threatened to make it more expensive to deliver food and consumer goods, increasing inflation.

Thanksgiving holiday motorists will encounter the highest gasoline prices on record this week but that isn’t expected to deter travel, even amid rising inflation and worries about an impending recession.

In its annual projection, AAA predicts 54.6 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving. That’s an increase of 1.5% over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic travel volumes. In fact, this could be the third busiest year for Thanksgiving travel since AAA started tracking in 2000.

“Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” said Paula Twidale, AAA’s senior vice president of Travel. “Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.

Most will drive

AAA predicts most travelers will drive to their destinations, much like last year. Nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car. 

While Thanksgiving road trips have slightly risen – up 0.4% from 2021 – car travel remains 2.5% below 2019 levels. This year, the price at the pump may be a contributing factor.

The AAA daily survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.66 a gallon, the highest on record. But trends are moving in motorists’ favor. Prices are falling each day and are now more than 11 cents a gallon less than seven days ago.

On Friday, Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported the average price of regular had fallen more than four cents a gallon from Thursday, calling it the largest one-day drop ever recorded.

Prices are highest in California

Drivers will encounter the highest fuel prices in the nation in California. The statewide average price of regular is $5.25 a gallon. Hawaii is not far behind with a statewide average of $5.20 a gallon, followed by Nevada at $4.87.

Motorists in Texas will find the cheapest gas prices in the nation, the only state with a two-handle statewide average of $2.99 a gallon. Mississippi is close behind with an average price of $3.12 a gallon, followed by Arkansas at $3.13.

AAA reports air travel for Thanksgiving week is expected to be up 8% over 2021, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destinations this year. That’s an increase of more than 330,000 travelers and nearly 99% of the 2019 volume. 

“Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early,” Twidale said. “Anticipate long TSA lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule.”

Even though gas prices have fallen over the last few weeks, they remain historically high. This is causing car shoppers to make fuel economy more of a priority. SUVs aren’t really known for fuel economy, but those powered by a hybrid engine get jaw-dropping miles per gallon (MPG).

Automotive publisher Edmunds.com has ranked the 2022 SUVs with the best MPG, and the Ford Escape Hybrid came out on top with a combined city/highway 41 MPG. With a starting price of $28,030, the Escape is also the least expensive of the high-mileage SUVs.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid impressed the experts at Edmunds with its combined 40 MPG rating. It also has a consumer-friendly sticker price, starting at $29,075.

The 2022 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid also clocks in at a combined 40 MPG. When pure battery power is factored into the equation, it gets the equivalent of 105 MPG. This vehicle, like some others that make the list, has the advantage of being able to charge the battery by plugging it into a power source instead of just relying on gasoline. However, it’s a bit pricier than its hybrid cousin, starting at $33,075.

Honda CR-V Hybrid boosts MPG over the gas-powered model

The Honda CRV Hybrid doesn’t quite hit 40 MPG, but it comes close. “Honda took one of our favorite SUVs on sale today and upped the efficiency with the CR-V Hybrid,” the Edmunds editors said. 

The EPA estimates that the CR-V Hybrid will get 38 combined MPG, while the standard CR-V gets 29 MPG. Prices start at $31,610.

The sticker price rises significantly when you buy the next SUV on the list, the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Like the Escape plug-in, it gives owners a full-electric option. But unlike the Ford plug-in, the starting price is just under $40,000. It provides a combined 38 MPG and the equivalent of 94 MPG.

The Hyundai Tucson also comes as a plug-in hybrid, delivering a combined 38 MPG and the equivalent of 80 MPG. A fully-charged battery provides 33 miles of range and a 261 horsepower engine that gets you the rest of the way. The price starts at $34,900.

Rounding out the list is the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid. It’s one of the smaller crossover SUVs and may be closer to a hatchback. It gets 35 MPG, or the equivalent of 90 MPG. Prices start at $35,845.

The price of gasoline remains much higher than normal, but at least it’s moving in the right direction. Prices fell sharply just about everywhere this past week.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.25 a gallon, down from $4.41 a week ago. Despite the rapid decline over the last three weeks, the average price remains above the previous record price of $4.11 a gallon that was set in July 2008.

The average price of premium gas is $5.00 a gallon, which is 16 cents lower than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.31 a gallon, which is 14 cents less than last week.

Prices have fallen for two reasons: Oil prices have retreated from recent highs, and demand has fallen. With motorists driving less, fuel supplies remain plentiful. But there are signs that this situation could change in the coming days.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported Thursday that U.S. gasoline demand is up 1.04% from last week and is the highest of any Sunday through Wednesday period so far this year, exceeding the week ahead of July 4. That could mean prices at the pump will level off soon. In the meantime, many states enjoyed large declines in gas prices.

The statewide average price of regular dropped by 25 cents a gallon in Oklahoma and Kansas this week. The average price dropped by 18 cents in Illinois and Kentucky; 17 cents in Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee; and 16 cents a gallon in South Carolina.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.66)  

• Hawaii ($5.48)    

• Alaska ($5.18)   

• Oregon ($5.11)  

• Nevada ($5.10)    

• Washington ($5.06)  

• Idaho ($4.95)  

• Utah ($4.87)       

• Illinois ($4.73)    

• Maine ($4.60)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($3.78)  

• South Carolina ($3.79)   

• Georgia ($3.82)  

• Mississippi ($3.83)

• Tennessee ($3.85)    

• Alabama ($3.86)   

• Arkansas ($3.86)     

• Louisiana ($3.88) 

• Oklahoma ($3.88)  

• Kentucky ($3.91)    

Oil prices are down, and so is demand for gasoline. As a result, the price at the pump continued its welcome slide this week.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.41 a gallon, 16 cents lower than last Friday and 54 cents less than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $5.16 a gallon, also 16 cents less than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.45 a gallon, 12 cents less than last week.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, notes that Libya is ramping its oil production back up and could provide 1.2 million daily barrels to the world’s oil supply. At the same time, he says total U.S. oil stocks are down more than 66 million barrels from a year ago.

Many states saw double-digit declines in average pump prices this week. The statewide average price of regular gas fell by 19 cents a gallon in Kentucky and Tennessee; 18 cents in Texas; 17 cents in Illinois, Alabama, and Arkansas; 16 cents in South Carolina; 15 cents in North Carolina, Alaska, Georgia, and Utah; and 14 cents a gallon in California, Arizona, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.81) 

• Hawaii ($5.59)    

• Alaska ($5.27)   

• Oregon ($5.23)  

• Nevada ($5.20)    

• Washington ($5.18)  

• Idaho ($5.08)  

• Utah ($4.98)       

• Illinois ($4.91)    

• Arizona ($4.75)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($3.95)  

• South Carolina ($3.95)   

• Georgia ($3.96)  

• Mississippi ($3.98)    

• Alabama ($4.01)   

• Louisiana ($4.02)    

• Tennessee ($4.02)  

• Arkansas ($4.03)  

• Kentucky ($4.09)    

• North Carolina ($4.10)   

Faced with record-high gasoline prices last month, Americans drove a lot less. As a result, motorists are seeing some of the fastest price declines on record.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gasoline is $4.57 a gallon, 15 cents less than last Friday. A month ago, the average price hit a record $5.01 a gallon.

The average price of premium gas is $5.32 a gallon, 13 cents less than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.57 a gallon, 10 cents less than last week.

In California, the statewide average fell by 19 cents a gallon this week. It's now below $6 a gallon for the first time in over a month. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported Thursday that at least one station in 26 states was selling regular for less than $4 a gallon.

Industry analysts say there are two big reasons for the sharp drop in prices at the pump. Demand has fallen sharply, increasing supplies. At the same time, oil prices have fallen well below $100 a barrel because market traders are betting that the world economy will enter a recession and demand for oil will continue to fall.

In the last seven days, several states saw major price declines. In the last week, the statewide average price is down 21 cents a gallon in Arizona. The average price is down 20 cents a gallon in Texas, 19 cents in California, 18 cents in Kentucky, 16 cents in Alabama and Tennessee, and 15 cents a gallon in Georgia, Alabama, and Illinois.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.95)  

• Hawaii ($5.60)    

• Alaska ($5.42)  

• Oregon ($5.34) 

• Nevada ($5.33)     

• Washington ($5.30)  

• Idaho ($5.17) 

• Utah ($5.13)        

• Illinois ($5.08)     

• Arizona ($4.89)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.11)  

• South Carolina ($4.11)   

• Mississippi ($4.12)   

• Texas ($4.13)   

• Louisiana ($4.16)    

• Alabama ($4.18)   

• Arkansas ($4.20)  

• Tennessee ($4.21)     

• North Carolina ($4.25)   

• Kentucky ($4.28)   

The price of gasoline continues to come down, just not as quickly as it went up. A decrease in demand has increased supplies and removed some of the upward pressure on prices, at least in the short run.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.72 a gallon, a decline of 12 cents a gallon in the last seven days. But it’s still $1.58 a gallon more than a year ago.

The average price of premium gas is $5.55 a gallon, 10 cents less than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.67 a gallon, nine cents a gallon less than last week.

“Domestic gasoline demand dipped recently, which took some of the pressure off of pump prices,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “About 80% of stations are now selling regular for under $5 a gallon,”  “But July is typically the heaviest month for demand as more Americans hit the road, so this trend of easing prices could be short-lived.” 

But Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, believes prices have more room to fall. On Twitter, he reports that 15 states now have at least one gas station selling regular fuel for below $4 a gallon. Nationwide, he says the average gas price could fall another 20 to 35 cents a gallon.

Illinois saw one of the biggest price drops this week, with the statewide average declining 14 cents a gallon. The statewide average fell 13 cents in Texas; 12 cents in Alabama; 11 cents in Tennessee and Kentucky; and 10 cents a gallon in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Mississippi.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.18) 

• Hawaii ($5.61)    

• Alaska ($5.54)  

• Nevada ($5.47)     

• Oregon ($5.44)   

• Washington ($5.42) 

• Idaho ($5.24)     

• Illinois ($5.23)     

• Utah ($5.23)   

• Arizona ($5.10)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.26)  

• South Carolina ($4.25)   

• Mississippi ($4.27)  

• Arkansas ($4.33)    

• Louisiana ($4.31)    

• Alabama ($4.34)   

• Tennessee ($4.37)  

• Texas ($4.33)    

• North Carolina ($4.39)   

• Kentucky ($4.46)   

After rising to $130 a barrel and taking gas prices to a record high, oil prices slipped below $100 a barrel in Tuesday’s trading.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, the main U.S. oil product, dropped 8.24% Tuesday to around $99.50 per barrel. At one point during the trading session, WTI was off more than 10%, hitting its lowest level since mid-May.

Brent crude, the type of oil used internationally, stayed above $100 a barrel -- but not by much. It fell by 9.45%.

Why the turnaround? Isn’t the world still struggling to fill the gap caused by the loss of Russian oil? It is, but analysts say U.S. production has started to increase.

Recession fears

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says there’s another reason for oil’s price retreat. The market increasingly believes the U.S. is headed for a recession if it isn’t already in one.

“Recession is part of it, a big part, but we have seen refined product inventories rising in recent weeks amidst high refinery utilization rates,” DeHaan told ConsumerAffairs.

The combination of increased refining and a drop in demand before the Fourth of July weekend is sending gasoline prices lower. The national average price of regular is down 23 cents a gallon from its record high of $5.01 a gallon on June 14. It has fallen every day since then.

Below $4 a gallon?

While the price at the pump is still very high by historical standards, DeHaan says he thinks it is very possible consumers could see the average price back below $4 before long.

“I think right now it's a potential before the end of the year, barring major hurricanes,” DeHaan said. “So iffy, but I do see it right now.”

Analysts point to recent declines in gasoline demand, suggesting that the high prices are causing motorists to drive less. They previously suggested that a small increase in online ordering in the second quarter was partly due to consumers reducing their number of trips to the store.

The main driver of this year’s spike in oil prices – sanctions on Russian oil because of its war with Ukraine – appears no closer to resolution. Analysts also point to structural issues that have limited oil production. They say prices could reverse course and head higher again at any time.

For motorists gassing up for a Fourth of July road trip, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is the national average price of gas this week registered its sharpest decline in months.

The bad news? The price is at a record high for the Independence Day holiday.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $4.84 a gallon, down 8 cents a gallon over the last seven days. Last year, holiday travelers paid an average of $3.12 a gallon.

The average price of premium gas is $5.55 a gallon, also 8 cents lower than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.76 a gallon, 4 cents lower than last week.

After peaking at $5.01 a gallon in June, the price of regular gas has drifted lower, falling more quickly in some states than others. Industry analysts attribute the decline to falling demand – perhaps caused by near-record high prices – and a recent pullback in oil prices.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said U.S. refiners also have more oil to work with. In a Twitter post, he said U.S. oil production is now at the highest level since before the pandemic.

While many states reported mostly stable gas prices this week, some motorists enjoyed large drops in the price at the pump. The statewide average price of regular gas fell 19 cents a gallon in Tennessee. The average price dropped 12 cents a gallon in Texas, North Carolina, and Arizona; 11 cents in Arizona; 8 cents in Illinois, Georgia, and Alabama; and 7 cents a gallon in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Utah bucked the trend of lower prices, as the statewide average rose 5 cents a gallon over the last week.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.27) 

• Hawaii ($5.61)    

• Nevada ($5.56)     

• Alaska ($5.56)    

• Oregon ($5.48) 

• Washington ($5.47)     

• Illinois ($5.37)      

• Utah ($5.26)   

• Idaho ($5.25) 

• Arizona ($5.21)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.35)  

• South Carolina ($4.35) 

• Mississippi ($4.37) 

• Arkansas ($4.40)    

• Louisiana ($4.40)     

• Alabama ($4.45)   

• Tennessee ($4.46)  

• Texas ($4.46)    

• North Carolina ($4.49)   

• Oklahoma ($4.55)  

A dramatic drop in oil prices translated into instant savings at the gas pump this week, as the price of gasoline retreated from its record high.

Fears that the U.S., along with the rest of the world, is facing a recession sent the oil market into a tailspin, with the price of oil falling by about $18 a barrel.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular is $4.92 a gallon, about eight cents a gallon lower than a week ago. A year ago, the price was $3.07.

The average price of premium gas is $5.63 a gallon, five cents lower than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.80 a gallon, a penny more than last week.

“The recent high prices may have led to a small drop in domestic gasoline demand as fewer drivers fueled up last week,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “This dip, coupled with less costly oil, has taken some steam out of surging pump prices. And this is happening right before drivers gas up for what AAA forecasts will be a busy July 4th travel weekend.” 

Nearly every state has lower gasoline prices compared to last week. The statewide average fell by 12 cents a gallon in Indiana, 10 cents in South Carolina and Michigan; nine cents in Alabama, eight cents in Illinois and Louisiana, and seven cents a gallon in California.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.35)    

• Nevada ($5.61)     

• Alaska ($5.58)    

• Hawaii ($5.56) 

• Washington ($5.51)      

• Oregon ($5.51)     

• Illinois ($5.47)  

• Arizona ($5.34)   

• Idaho ($5.20) 

• Utah ($5.19)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.43)  

• Mississippi ($4.45)

• Arkansas ($4.48)    

• Louisiana ($4.48)     

• South Carolina ($4.48) 

• Alabama ($4.54)   

• Texas ($4.60)    

• Oklahoma ($4.61)  

• Kansas ($4.62)    

• Tennessee ($4.66)  

President Biden is asking Congress to suspend the federal gasoline tax for three months to provide help to consumers who are struggling to fill their tanks.

The price at the pump peaked last week at $5.01 per gallon but has since pulled back slightly. Today, the national average for regular gas is $4.95 a gallon.

The proposal so far has been met with some skepticism. Chris Robinson, a senior analyst at Lux Research, says the federal tax holiday would provide minimal relief.

“Prices at the pump have increased from roughly $3.00 per gallon one year ago to roughly $5.00 per gallon nationally today,” Robinson told ConsumerAffairs. “As the federal gasoline tax is only $0.18, it only addresses a small fraction of the increase in prices to consumers.”

How much would consumers save?

If the average consumer purchases 50 gallons of gasoline per month, the savings would amount to $9 per month – or less than $30 over the three-month period. It’s also not clear whether every station would lower the price of gasoline by 18 cents per gallon. There is no federal rule that would require them to do so.

Assuming all gas stations passed along the full savings of the tax holiday to consumers, Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, has done a deeper dive into drivers of specific vehicles and has posted estimated three-month savings on Twitter. Here's what he says drivers could save:

• Pickup truck: $66.24

• Fullsize SUV: $55.20

• Minivan/Mid-size SUV: $44.16

• Fullsize: $35.28

• Compact: $26.52

$6.3 billion in lost revenue

DeHaan also estimates that a federal gas tax holiday would cost the federal highway trust fund $6.3 billion in lost revenue.

The proposal comes amid the president’s war of words with leaders of the petroleum industry. In recent weeks, Biden has accused oil refiners of taking advantage of the oil shortage to increase profits. Oil executives have countered by pointing out that refineries are operating at near capacity. These officials have criticized the Biden administration's energy policy for being hostile to their industry.

“While the Biden administration has put some pressure on oil and gas companies to respond to high prices with increased supply, companies are hesitant to invest capital into refining capacity due to the threat of a decrease in demand from electric vehicle sales,” Robinson said.

Americans got little relief at the gas pump this week, but at least the pace of rising prices has leveled off near its record high.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $5.01 a gallon, the same price as Thursday and only 2 cents higher than last Friday.

The average price of premium gas is $5.68 a gallon, 4 cents more than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.79 a gallon, 4 cents a gallon more than last week.

According to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, no one should be in a hurry to fill their tanks. In a Twitter post, DeHaan said he expects prices to begin drifting lower and could hit $4.75 to $4.85 a gallon by the July 4th holiday.

President Biden this week challenged major refiners to produce more gasoline and diesel fuel, even if this means lower profits.

"At a time of war, refinery profit margins well above normal being passed directly onto American families are not acceptable," Biden wrote in the letter to the CEOs of major refining companies.

Motorists witnessed more stable prices this week and over the previous two weeks. The statewide average price of regular rose 12 cents a gallon in Missouri; 11 cents in Arizona; 10 cents in Oklahoma; 9 cents in Alaska; and 8 cents in Nevada.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.42)    

• Nevada ($5.67)     

• Alaska ($5.61)     

• Washington ($5.56)      

• Oregon ($5.55)     

• Illinois ($5.55)

• Hawaii ($5.55)

• Arizona ($5.39)   

• Michigan ($5.21) 

• Indiana ($5.20)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.49)  

• Mississippi ($4.51)

• Arkansas ($4.53)    

• Louisiana ($4.56)     

• South Carolina ($4.58)

• Alabama ($4.63)

• Tennessee ($4.64)    

• Kansas ($4.67)  

• Oklahoma ($4.67)  

• Missouri ($4.69)    

It was another week of escalating fuel prices, as the national average price of regular gas closed in on $5 a gallon.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular hit $4.99 a gallon on Friday, another 22-cent gain. The average price has gained 61 cents in the last 30 days.

The average price of premium gas is $5.64 a gallon, a 25 cents per gallon increase over the last week. The price of diesel fuel is $5.75 a gallon, 18 cents higher than a week ago.

“Spot gasoline markets pushing higher again, up 8-12c/gal while diesel spots up 13c/gal,” GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan tweeted on Thursday. “We hit $5/gal and (it) won't stop there.”

Still-rising oil prices are partly to blame, but gasoline demand is also higher and drawing down stockpiles. Refiners, meanwhile, are performing a balancing act by diverting more oil to produce enough diesel fuel to keep transportation costs from spiraling out of control.

A number of states saw huge one-week increases in prices at the pump. The price of regular rose 34 cents a gallon in Kansas this week, 33 cents in Arizona, 32 cents in Virginia, 30 cents in Michigan, Illinois, and Oklahoma, 29 cents in South Carolina, and 28 cents a gallon in Tennessee.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.42)    

• Nevada ($5.60)    

• Illinois ($5.57)  

• Washington ($5.52)      

• Oregon ($5.52)     

• Alaska ($5.52)     

• Hawaii ($5.51)

• Arizona ($5.28)   

• Indiana ($5.25)   

• Michigan ($5.23)  

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.42)

• Mississippi ($4.51)

• Arkansas ($4.51)    

• Louisiana ($4.52)     

• Oklahoma ($4.57)   

• Missouri ($4.57)    

• South Carolina ($4.60)    

• Kansas ($4.61)   

• Alabama ($4.62)      

• Tennessee ($4.64)     

Motorists found no relief at the gas pump this week. With higher demand because of the Memorial Day weekend and surging oil prices, gas prices are setting daily record highs.

The AAA daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is a record $4.76 a gallon, an increase of 17 cents over last Friday. That’s about 56 cents a gallon higher than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $5.39 a gallon, a 14-cent gain over a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.58, just five cents a gallon higher than last week.

A handful of states suspended their state gas tax this week, providing residents some immediate relief. Drivers in New York saw the price of regular drop by 11 cents a gallon.

But in most of the country, prices were moving higher. The statewide average price surged by 37 cents a gallon in Michigan, 31 cents in Illinois, 19 cents in Nebraska, 17 cents in Oklahoma, 15 cents in California and Kansas, 14 cents in Arizona, Arkansas, and Missouri, 13 cents in Nevada, and 10 cents in Oregon.

On Thursday, GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reported on Twitter that U.S. gasoline inventories had ended May at their lowest level since 2014, suggesting that there will be no letup in pain at the pump.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.24)       

• Hawaii ($5.46)     

• Nevada ($5.37)  

• Washington ($5.28) 

• Oregon ($5.28)   

• Illinois ($5.27)   

• Alaska ($5.25)

• Arizona ($5.06)  

• Michigan ($4.93) 

• Indiana ($4.92)      

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($4.20)

• Mississippi ($4.25)

• Arkansas ($4.25)       

• Oklahoma ($4.27)  

• Kansas ($4.27)   

• Louisiana ($4.29)  

• Missouri ($4.31)    

• South Carolina ($4.31)

• Nebraska ($4.37)      

• Tennessee ($4.36)       

Effective immediately, New York state has suspended its gas tax for the rest of the year – a move that will automatically roll back the price per gallon of gas by as much as 16 cents.

The move should come as a relief to residents of the state, who are paying an average of $4.93 a gallon. Those living in New York City have it even worse, paying $5.03 per gallon. That's nearly 30 cents per gallon higher than the national average.

Fortune reports that there are areas of New York where drivers could see even bigger discounts at the pump because some counties have their own gas taxes and are capping how much they collect per fill-up at between $2 and $3 per gallon.

Those who commute to New York from Connecticut are extra lucky because of Connecticut’s recent decision to suspend its 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax. Those who come in from New Jersey aren't so lucky because officials in that state have not made the move to suspend the gas tax.

A smattering of other states across the country – Florida, Maryland, and Georgia – have also suspended gas taxes, and there are proposals in Michigan, Alaska, Illinois, California, Minnesota, and Virginia to do the same. 

Will the federal government take the same approach?

If you’re thinking that the White House should just wave its magic wand and suspend gas prices across the country, don’t bet on it. When asked about the possibility, President Biden says the problem we’re facing with gas prices is tied to the pandemic and global tensions surrounding Russia.

“When COVID struck, demand for oil plummeted, so production slowed down worldwide. Because of the strength and the speed of our recovery, demand for oil shot back up much faster than the supply.  That’s why the cost of gas began to rise last year,” Biden remarked.   

“At the start of this year, gas was about $3.30 a gallon. Today, it’s … nearly a dollar more in less than three months. And the reason for that is because of Putin’s war. Our prices are rising because of Putin’s actions. There isn’t enough supply. And the bottom line is: If we want lower gas prices, we need to have more oil supply right now.”

Biden concluded by saying U.S. oil companies are also partly responsible for current struggles at the pump. 

"U.S. oil companies ... are recording their largest profits in years, [and] they have a choice," he said. "They can put those profits to productive use by producing more oil, restarting idle wells, or producing on the sites they already are leasing."

Consumers who are looking to hit the road over the Memorial Day weekend will have to pay high prices when they go to fill up.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.60 per gallon, which is a penny higher than last week. The average price of premium gas is $5.25 per gallon, which is two cents higher than last week. The price of diesel fuel went down slightly, falling to $5.53 per gallon from $5.57 per gallon last week. 

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that gasoline demand decreased by approximately 200,000 barrels per day. However, officials say demand is likely to spike over the weekend as consumers travel over the holidays. As long as demand falls again after the weekend, they say pump price increases should be limited. 

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.07)    

• Hawaii ($5.43)     

• Nevada ($5.24)

• Washington ($5.21) 

• Alaska ($5.19)

• Oregon ($5.18)   

• Illinois ($4.96) 

• New York ($4.92)    

• Arizona ($4.92)   

• District of Columbia ($4.84)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($4.10) 

• Arkansas ($4.11)     

• Kansas ($4.12)

• Georgia ($4.13) 

• Missouri ($4.17)  

• Mississippi ($4.17)

• Nebraska ($4.19)   

• Louisiana ($4.21)     

• Minnesota ($4.22) 

• Colorado ($4.23)       

With more oil being diverted to diesel fuel to bring down raging transportation costs, motorists endured still more pain at the pump this week as gasoline prices hit yet another record high.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.59 a gallon, eclipsing the previous record set earlier in the month. The price has gained nearly 50 cents a gallon in just the last 30 days.

The average price of premium gas is $5.23 a gallon, gaining 16 cents in the past week. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.57, only a penny a gallon more than a week ago. The price of diesel fuel went down slightly at one point this week, the first decline in over a month.

What’s notable this week is that every state now has an average gas price of over $4 a gallon. Five states have a statewide average greater than $5 a gallon, and the average price in California is now more than $6 a gallon.

“The high cost of oil, the key ingredient in gasoline, is driving these high pump prices for consumers,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “Even the annual seasonal demand dip for gasoline during the lull between spring break and Memorial Day, which would normally help lower prices, is having no effect this year.”

Most states experienced double-digit price increases for another week. Alaska set the pace, with the average price rising 34 cents a gallon. Washington’s average price rose by 30 cents.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($6.08)    

• Hawaii ($5.37)     

• Nevada ($5.25)

• Washington ($5.20)  30

• Alaska ($5.16)   34

• Oregon ($5.15)   

• Illinois ($4.99) 

• New York ($4.92)    

• Arizona ($4.85)   

• Pennsylvania ($4.77)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($4.05) 

• Kansas ($4.06)     

• Arkansas ($4.14)

• Colorado ($4.15) 

• Georgia ($4.15)  

• Missouri ($4.16)

• Minnesota ($4.16)   

• Nebraska ($4.17)     

• North Dakota ($4.18) 

• Mississippi ($4.20)      

The sticker shock at the gas pump continued for another week in every region of the nation. The prices of gasoline and diesel fuel remain at record highs.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.43 a gallon, an increase of 16 cents a gallon since last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $5.07 a gallon, 15 cents more than a week ago.

Rising diesel fuel prices slowed this week, but they're still at a record high of $5.56 a gallon. The one-week increase is only five cents a gallon. 

According to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, U.S. consumers are spending $125 million more per day on gasoline than they did just a month ago.

Several states saw head-spinning price increases at the gas pump this week. The statewide average soared by 26 cents a gallon in Illinois, 25 cents a gallon in Illinois, and 20 cents a gallon in Texas.

The average price increased 18 cents in Georgia and Minnesota; 16 cents in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana; and 15 cents in Washington, Oregon, and Oklahoma.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.85)    

• Hawaii ($5.30)     

• Nevada ($5.12)

• Washington ($4.90)  

• Oregon ($4.88)   

• Alaska ($4.81)   

• Illinois ($4.80)    

• Arizona ($4.70)   

• New York ($4.66)  

• Idaho ($4.50)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($3.94)   

• Kansas ($3.98)  

• Oklahoma ($4.00) 

• Arkansas ($4.00)  

• Mississippi ($4.00)  

• Missouri ($4.01)    

• Louisiana ($4.07)  

• Nebraska ($4.07)  

• Texas ($4.10)     

• Minnesota ($4.10)  

The pain for consumers and truck drivers continues at the fuel pump. The average price of both regular gas and diesel fuel hit record highs this week and show no sign of slowing.

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas is $4.40 a gallon, while the average price of diesel is $5.55 a gallon. One reason for the surge is the high price of oil, which is a result of the shortage caused by the loss of Russian petroleum from the market.

When refiners receive a barrel of oil, they can choose to produce gasoline or diesel fuel. With fewer COVID-19 cases manifesting than in previous months, consumers are driving more and using more gasoline. However, the trucking industry's demand for fuel has never been higher due to supply chain backlogs.

Benjamin Dierker, director of Public Policy at the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, says gasoline and diesel fuel are different markets competing for the same barrel of oil. He said refineries often respond to “market signals” to determine whether to produce more gas or diesel fuel. Lately, the market has signaled a need for more diesel fuel.

“Falling inventory and high demand for distillates in the supply chain and for air travel are spiking diesel costs,” Dierker told ConsumerAffairs. 

‘Kink in the hose’

So with less available oil, refiners have to choose between producing gasoline or diesel fuel. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says there’s an additional problem: The nation’s oil refineries aren’t producing as much of either fuel.

“Refining is the kink in the hose, and we're down 1 million barrels a day of refining capacity vs early 2019,” he wrote on Twitter.

Fuel prices were already fairly high before Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, provoking international sanctions. But since the invasion, gasoline prices have risen another 25%.

If consumers can take any consolation, today’s record-high pump prices aren’t really a record when adjusted for inflation. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the 2008 high of $4.11 a gallon is actually $5.30 in today’s money.

Whether you drive an SUV or a big rig, the last week has been painful when it was time to fill up. The price of gasoline and diesel fuel continued to rise.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.28 a gallon, 12 cents a gallon higher since last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $4.92 a gallon, 10 cents higher than a week ago. 

But it's the price of diesel fuel that is the most stunning, reaching another record high. Today, the national average price is $5.51 a gallon, an increase of 76 cents per gallon since last week and $3.13 higher than a year ago.

Truckers in the Northeast are paying a lot more. The average price of diesel in New York, where there is a shortage, is $6.25 a gallon, an increase of 83 cents a gallon in just the last seven days.

While the average gas price is rising at a more moderate pace, some states have experienced wild price swings in the last week. The statewide average price of regular is up 30 cents a gallon in Michigan, 19 cents in Ohio, 15 cents in Illinois, 12 cents in Wisconsin, and 11 cents in Texas.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved the so-called “NOPEC” bill, which if passed would allow the U.S. to sue OPEC for antitrust and monopolistic behavior. In a tweet, Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, predicted such a law would result in even higher fuel prices.

While oil companies don’t set oil prices, they are benefitting from the rise in prices. This week, both Shell and BP reported near-record earnings.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.76)  

• Hawaii ($5.27)     

• Nevada ($5.10)

• Washington ($4.75)  

• Oregon ($4.73)   

• Alaska ($4.68)   

• Arizona ($4.59) 

• Illinois ($4.54)    

• Utah($4.51)

• Idaho ($4.46)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($3.76) 

• South Carolina ($3.81) 

• Arkansas ($3.84)  

• Mississippi ($3.84) 

• Missouri ($3.85)    

• Oklahoma ($3.85) 

• Kansas ($3.86)   

• Texas ($3.90)     

• Louisiana ($3.91)  

• Minnesota ($3.92)  

Motorists have kept an eye on rapidly rising gasoline prices over the last couple of months, but they may not have paid much attention to the price of diesel fuel, which has soared to a record high.

But even if you aren’t filling your tank with diesel fuel, the nation’s truckers are. That means rising fuel costs are adding to inflation since higher costs for truckers make it more expensive to deliver products.

According to AAA, the national average price of diesel fuel is $5.32 a gallon, a 25 cents per gallon increase in the last week. One year ago, the average diesel price was $3.09.

While the price change may seem sudden, Benjamin Dierker, director of public policy at Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, says economic forces affecting the price have been gathering for some time.

“Obviously, federal limitations on exploration and production and a ban on Russian imports – diesel in particular – are adding pressure right now, but domestic distillate inventories have been falling since 2020,” Dierker told ConsumerAffairs.

Other government policies

Other government policies have also contributed to the price spike. Dierker says environmental and climate policies have forced some refineries to close. Since the distillate inventory is separate from gasoline, lower supply for the same or higher demand is pushing prices for diesel up faster relative to the gasoline market.

“It's also important to note that gasoline and diesel are different markets,” Dierker said. “The price is determined the same way, through supply and demand, depending on crude production, refining capacity, inventory, and demand. But refineries also respond to market signals to determine whether to produce more gasoline or distillates.”

Kunal Sawhney, CEO of Kalkine Group, agrees that the problem with diesel fuel is multi-fold.

"First, there have been persistent supply issues due to low inventories," Sawhney told us. "Second, the demand has picked up over the past some months after countries have progressed from COVID-induced lockdowns. This is a double whammy." 

Right now, diesel fuel supplies are down and truckers feeding the supply chain are adding to demand. With COVID-19 cases in retreat in the U.S., more Americans are traveling again. The airlines are busy and using more jet fuel.

According to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA), retail gasoline prices have risen 26% since the start of the year. During that same period, the price of diesel fuel has risen by 42.8%. 

Motorists saw very little movement in the price of gasoline early in the week, but the price of fuel has gained momentum in the last 24 hours, especially the price of diesel fuel. 

AAA’s daily survey of gas prices shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.16 a gallon, four cents more than last Friday. It’s eight cents a gallon cheaper than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.82 a gallon, also four cents a gallon more than a week ago. But the average price of diesel fuel is now at a record-high of $5.18 a gallon, 11 cents higher than a week ago.

In fact, diesel fuel prices have remained stubbornly high, even as gas prices have moderated a bit. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at Gasbuddy, says it puts diesel users at a big disadvantage.

“The difference between the average price of a gallon of diesel and gasoline has just hit a new record, 98.4c/gal,” DeHaan wrote on Twitter. “It will likely surpass $1/gal soon.”

Diesel fuel is at a new record high after gas prices, which topped out at a record $4.31 a gallon in March, have moderated. Even if you don’t drive a diesel vehicle, you’re paying for diesel’s rise in price because the trucks that deliver all manner of consumer goods use it as fuel. CNBC estimates that truck drivers, who were paying $10,000 a week for fuel, are now paying closer to $18,000 – contributing to inflation.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.68)  

• Hawaii ($5.25)     

• Nevada ($5.07)   

• Alaska ($4.65)   

• Washington ($4.69)

• Oregon ($4.66)   

• Arizona ($4.54)   

• Utah($4.49)

• Idaho ($4.43)   

• Illinois ($4.39)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Georgia ($3.71) 

• Arkansas ($3.75) 

• Missouri ($3.76)   

• Kansas ($3.77)    

• Mississippi ($3.77) 

• South Carolina ($3.78) 

• Oklahoma ($3.78)  

• Texas ($3.79)     

• Kentucky ($3.80)  

• North Carolina ($3.81)  

Gas prices, which had been falling in the last couple of weeks, have started rising again. Oil industry experts predict that it could be a bumpy ride for motorists as the summer driving season approaches.

AAA cites its daily survey of fuel prices to show that the national average price of regular gas is $4.12 a gallon, five cents a gallon more than last Friday. That’s still 13 cents less than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.78 a gallon, three cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.07, six cents a gallon more than a week ago.

Some states saw little movement in prices in the last week while others suffered sticker shock. Maryland’s gas tax holiday ended, sending the price at the pump up 36 cents a gallon. 

Elsewhere, the statewide average gas price rose 12 cents a gallon in Missouri, Kansas, and Wisconsin, while Oklahoma motorists paid 11 cents a gallon more. The average price was up nine cents in Illinois but down four cents in Ohio.

Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates predicts that the decline in gas prices is probably over for now, with the national averages returning to between $4.15 and $4.20 per gallon in the near future.

U.S. oil producers are now ramping up their production to meet shortfalls. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported on Twitter that domestic oil production has ticked higher again and is close to reaching 12 million barrels a day. 

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.69)  

• Hawaii ($5.24)     

• Nevada ($5.08)   

• Alaska ($4.65)   

• Washington ($4.68)

• Oregon ($4.67)   

• Arizona ($4.56)   

• Utah($4.50)

• Idaho ($4.43)   

• Illinois ($4.40)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($3.76)   

• Kansas ($3.77)    

• Oklahoma ($3.78)  

• Arkansas ($3.74)  

• Texas ($3.77)   

• Ohio ($3.76)     

• South Carolina ($3.79)    

• Georgia ($3.72)  

• Kentucky ($3.81) 

• Mississippi ($3.78) 

The price of gasoline continued to drop from its recent record high this week. According to GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan, Americans are now spending $100 million less on gasoline every day than they did a month ago.

AAA’s daily gas price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.07 a gallon, six cents less than last Friday. The price hit its record high of $4.33 a gallon a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.75 a gallon, seven cents a gallon less than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.01 a gallon, five cents less than a week ago.

Even though oil prices have recently gone up again, analysts say the price at the pump is beginning to react to the drop in crude prices from its recent highs. However, it’s not clear how much lower prices can go in the short-term future since the summer driving season is approaching and European nations are seriously debating an outright embargo on Russian oil.

Several states enjoyed steep drops in gas prices this week. The statewide average fell 10 cents a gallon in Connecticut, South Carolina, and Georgia. The average price is nine cents lower in California, eight cents lower in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan, and seven cents a gallon lower in Maryland and Kansas.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.71)  

• Hawaii ($5.23)     

• Nevada ($5.08)   

• Alaska ($4.66)   

• Washington ($4.65)

• Oregon ($4.63)   

• Arizona ($4.58)   

• Utah($4.49)

• Idaho ($4.39)   

• Illinois ($4.31) 

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($3.64)   

• Kansas ($3.65)    

• Oklahoma ($3.67)  

• Arkansas ($3.68)  

• Texas ($3.69)

• Maryland ($3.69)     

• South Carolina ($3.71)  

• Georgia ($3.71)  

• Wisconsin ($3.73) 

• Mississippi ($3.77) 

President Biden wants to combat the high gas prices that Americans are paying at the pump, and he thinks he may be able to do it with ethanol.

In remarks made in Menlo, Iowa, on Tuesday, the president said he wants to use the ethanol produced by U.S. farms via corn production to produce more E15 gasoline that can be used to bolster the nation's fuel supply.

“It reduces our reliance on foreign oil. By adding this fuel to our gasoline – 10% or 15%, even more – it stretches the supply,” Biden stated. “It [also] gives you a choice at the pump. When you have a choice, you have competition; when you have competition, you have better prices.”

The president added that using ethanol as a fuel source would create more jobs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide more grain to be used as animal feed for cattle producers. Currently, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is forcing the price of grain to rise. 

The questions and answers around E15

To try and make sense of the whole ethanol landscape as it affects consumers, ConsumerAffairs dove into some common questions that readers may have about the fuel type. Here’s what we found…

What’s the difference between E10 and E15? Most U.S. drivers who use ethanol pump what's referred to as E10 – a blend that contains 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. E15 is a blend that includes anywhere from 10.5% to 15% ethanol. A more important difference is that a gallon of E15 doesn't carry a driver quite as far as a gallon of E10, as the U.S. Department of Energy says the higher blend has slightly less energy.

How available is E15? At the moment, E15 gas is currently available at about 2,300 fueling stations in 30 states, according to the Department of Energy. However, Biden said the U.S. will invest $100 million in biofuel infrastructure to create more stations.

Can all vehicles use E15? No. The only vehicles approved for E15 use so far are flexible fuel vehicles and conventional vehicles produced during the 2001 model year or after. The vehicles prohibited from using E15 are much greater in number. They include:

• All motorcycles.

• All vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses and delivery trucks.

• All off-road vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles.

• All engines in off-road equipment, such as chainsaws and gasoline lawn mowers.

• All conventional vehicles older than the 2001 model year.

Will E15 be cheaper? Yes. According to the Des Moines Register’s coverage of Biden’s visit, consumers will pay less for E15 than E10 at the pump. However, the difference is only reported to be around 3%. For those who are interested in how much it might save them at their local pump, the Renewable Fuels Association provides an online calculator that helps consumers figure it out.

The price of gasoline is still well above $4 a gallon in most places, but prices began to moderate this week as the U.S. and its allies moved to release oil reserves into the market. The price of crude oil dropped accordingly.

The AAA daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.14 a gallon, seven cents a gallon lower than last Friday. But it’s still nine cents a gallon higher than four weeks ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.82 a gallon, six cents lower than a week ago. The price of diesel fuel is $5.06 a gallon, down four cents from last week.

Some of the biggest drops in fuel prices this week occurred in the Midwest. The statewide average for regular fell 11 cents a gallon in Michigan and Ohio, and prices were 10 cents a gallon cheaper in Wisconsin.

The average price this week also fell by 10 cents a gallon in Georgia; nine cents a gallon in California and Nevada; seven cents a gallon in Illinois, New York, Kansas, and Oklahoma; and six cents a gallon in Arizona and Missouri.

It remains to be seen how much lower prices will fall in the short term. The summer driving season begins next month, and refineries are in the process of switching over to more expensive summer fuel blends.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.80)  

• Hawaii ($5.23)     

• Nevada ($5.14)   

• Alaska ($4.72)

• Washington ($4.69)

• Oregon ($4.67)   

• Arizona ($4.62)   

• Illinois ($4.39)     

• Idaho ($4.41)   

• New York ($4.26)  

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($3.70)  

• Kansas ($3.72)  

• Arkansas ($3.74)

• Oklahoma ($3.73)  

• Maryland ($3.76)     

• Nebraska ($3.82)

• Iowa ($3.84)  

• South Carolina ($3.81)

• Wisconsin ($3.81)

• Georgia ($3.81)

With mid-term elections just months away and gasoline prices still near record highs, Republicans and Democrats are blaming one another for consumers’ pain at the pump.

The conflict was on full display at Wednesday’s House hearing on gas prices, where top U.S. oil company executives were called to testify. 

Democrats accused the oil companies of ripping off consumers by raising the price of oil. Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations posed pointed questions to the CEOs of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Pioneer, and Shell

“It’s often stated that oil is a global commodity and its price is determined by the global marketplace. We don’t dispute that,” said subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-Colo.). “But the price of oil, alone, is not what’s alarming most of us on this panel. It’s the price at the pump.”

No control over the market price

The chief executives immediately defended their pricing practices by pointing out that current market conditions are leading to higher costs.

“We do not control the market price of crude oil or natural gas, nor of refined products like gasoline and diesel fuel, and we have no tolerance for price gouging,” Chevron CEO Michael Wirth told the lawmakers.

In fact, oil prices are mostly set by the oil futures market. And while other factors go into the price of gasoline, the price of oil does in fact make up a significant part of it.

Republicans on the committee pointed fingers at Democrats, accusing them of discouraging exploration and production of oil in favor of renewable forms of energy. In particular, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) blamed President Biden directly.

“Rather than deflect blame, President Biden should consider his own culpability for higher energy prices,” Griffith said.

Oil expert weighs in

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says he found the hearing hard to watch.

“They [the lawmakers] may have a political science degree, but many seem to lack any substantive understanding of economics,” DeHaan posted on Twitter.

So what’s the real reason for the spike in oil prices? DeHaan says a lot of it is simply due to the economic dislocation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The primary reason prices remain elevated are the effects of COVID shutting down the economy for 2020 and stifling oil demand, leading oil companies to make long term cuts,” DeHaan told ConsumerAffairs.

At one point early in the pandemic, when people were no longer commuting to work, there was so much excess oil that oil companies ran out of storage room and paid their customers to take it off their hands.

“But demand came roaring back in 2021, quickly absorbing the excess and then leading to a worsening imbalance between supply and demand since then,” DeHaan said. “This year, the imbalance has been made worse by Russia's war on Ukraine amidst a new urgency to cut Russia's oil supply off, leading to even less oil supply as the global economy continues to recover.”

Oil prices have also been volatile because of international tension and uncertainty, causing markets that set the price of refined products to shy away from lowering prices too quickly. Even so, prices at the pump are beginning to fall.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $4.15 a gallon, down seven cents a gallon in the last seven days. However, it’s only 16 cents a gallon lower than its record high of $4.33 a gallon.

Americans continued to endure pain at the gas pump this week, but at least prices didn’t get any higher. Meanwhile, the White House promised action that it said could lower prices.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $4.21 a gallon, three cents less than last week. It’s down from its record high of $4.33 a gallon over the last three weeks.

The average price of premium gas $4.88 a gallon, two cents less than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is still climbing, with the average price coming in five cents higher than a week ago at $5.11 a gallon.

In a statement Thursday, the White House said President Biden would begin releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help make up the shortfall from the loss of Russian oil. The plan calls for selling 1 million barrels a day for the next six months.

“The scale of this release is unprecedented: the world has never had a release of oil reserves at this 1 million per day rate for this length of time,” the White House said in a statement. “This record release will provide a historic amount of supply to serve as a bridge until the end of the year when domestic production ramps up.” 

Russia produced about 10 million barrels of oil a day last year, most of which was sold in Europe. The war in Ukraine has resulted in disruptions in supply, as well as some reductions caused by sanctions.

Even though U.S. gas prices remain high, some of the volatility subsided this week. However, the statewide average price jumped 11 cents a gallon in Hawaii and rose six cents a gallon in Nevada.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.89)   

• Hawaii ($5.19)     

• Nevada ($5.23)   

• Alaska ($4.73)

• Washington ($4.72)

• Oregon ($4.70)   

• Arizona ($4.68)   

• Illinois ($4.46)     

• Idaho ($4.42)   

• New York ($4.33)  

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($3.77)

• Kansas ($3.79)

• Arkansas ($3.80)

• Oklahoma ($3.80)

• Maryland ($3.81)     

• Nebraska ($3.86)

• Iowa ($3.89)

• South Carolina ($3.90)

• Minnesota ($3.91)   

• Mississippi ($3.89) 

Crude oil prices have dropped sharply this week, falling below $100 a barrel at one point. Does that mean lower gasoline prices are in your future? Don’t count on it.

Oil prices are a big factor in the price of gasoline, but Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says we are not in normal times. He says there are a couple of reasons oil prices fell this week.

“Part of the reason was the lockdown in Shanghai, leading the market to worry that there's going to be demand destruction in China,” DeHaan told ConsumerAffairs. “There was a cease-fire in Saudi Arabia, suspending rebel attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure. There's also been talk of Russia pulling back a bit in Ukraine."

All of these factors could lead to a rather dramatic pullback in oil prices. But DeHaan says the well-known “rocket-feather” phenomenon is in play. Gas prices may rise like a rocket, but they usually fall like a feather. These days, that situation is even more pronounced.

“We have seen incredible volatility with wholesale prices moving up and down,” DeHaan said. “I mean, the price of diesel fuel jumped by a dollar a gallon in one day. Station owners are trying to stay ahead of it but they don't want to drop prices and then have to quickly raise them again when the price changes. The last thing station owners want to do is to anger motorists by cutting prices 30 cents a gallon one day and then raising them 70 cents the next.”

Challenges for producers

The volatility of the market is exacerbating the problem for gasoline retailers. For example, the wholesale price of gas fell 35 cents a gallon over the last couple of days, but consumers shouldn't expect gas stations to instantly lower prices.

“The problem is, a station owner may not access those prices for several days until they fill their storage tanks with the cheaper fuel," DeHaan said.

So why aren’t oil companies stepping up production, especially since the price of oil is so high? DeHaan says drillers currently face a lot of supply chain challenges that don't allow them to move quickly.

There are upfront costs that have increased in recent months. Drillers also need a huge supply of sand to break the shale formations that contain oil and gas, and that sand has suddenly gotten scarce and more expensive. 

DeHaan says motorists could see some short-term relief at the gas pump. However, it probably won’t come as soon as many consumers would like, and prices may not be as low as most consumers might hope.

The price of gasoline remains at record highs, but the national average price continued to fall this week.

AAA’s daily gas price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas has fallen three cents a gallon from last Friday to $4.24 a gallon. It’s still 69 cents a gallon more than four weeks ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.90, also three cents a gallon less than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.07 a gallon, down a penny from last week.

Maryland drivers got the biggest break at the gas pump this week. Gov. Larry Hogan signed a measure suspending the state’s gasoline tax, sending prices sharply lower. Maryland became the state with the fourth-cheapest gas prices, with the statewide average falling by 35 cents a gallon.

Motorists in California and Nevada weren’t quite so lucky. The statewide average rose 14 cents a gallon in Nevada and 10 cents a gallon in California.

“Usually this time of year, with warmer weather and longer days, we’d see an uptick in gasoline demand as more people hit the road,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. “But we had a slight drop in demand last week, which may be due to higher pump prices.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.88)   

• Hawaii ($5.08)     

• Nevada ($5.17)   

• Washington ($4.73)

• Oregon ($4.71)  

• Alaska ($4.71)      

• Arizona ($4.66)   

• Illinois ($4.49)     

• Idaho ($4.39)   

• New York ($4.35)  

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Kansas ($3.77)

• Missouri ($3.76)  

• Oklahoma ($3.78)

• Maryland ($3.79)     

• Arkansas ($3.82)

• Nebraska ($3.87)

• Iowa ($3.88)

• North Dakota ($3.90)

• Minnesota ($3.92)   

• Mississippi ($3.92) 

After last week’s record surge in gasoline prices, some motorists found a little relief this week depending on where they live. For the short-term at least, prices appear to have peaked.

The AAA daily gas price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas today is $4.27 a gallon, six cents less than last Friday. Last week, the average price topped out at $4.33 a gallon.

The average price of premium gas is $4.93 a gallon, two cents lower than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $5.08 a gallon, seven cents less than last week.

Tristan Kruth, director of Marketing at FuelCloud, which makes fuel management systems, says gas prices sometimes move with oil prices. However, he says that’s not always the case.

“The current spike in oil prices is being driven by Wall Street speculation, not an actual lack in supply or increase in demand,” Kruth told ConsumerAffairs. “When fuel prices are volatile, the most likely outcome in the short term is continued price volatility. However, given that oil supply is still reliable, our expectation is that fuel prices will come back to earth in the reasonably near future."

In the last week, motorists in some states experienced wild price swings. Prices surged 31 cents a gallon in Hawaii, making it once again the second-most expensive state for gasoline behind California, which saw the average price rise nine cents a gallon this week.

The average price jumped 15 cents a gallon in Nevada while a number of states saw prices fall, or at the very least remain stable. The statewide average gas price fell nine cents a gallon in Connecticut, while it was seven cents lower in New York.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.78) 

• Hawaii ($5.12)     

• Nevada ($5.02)   

• Washington ($4.73)

• Oregon ($4.71)  

• Alaska ($4.71)      

• Arizona ($4.61)   

• Illinois ($4.53)     

• Connecticut ($4.39)   

• New York ($4.40)  

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Kansas ($3.79)

• Missouri ($3.79)  

• Oklahoma ($3.82)

• Arkansas ($3.86)

• Nebraska ($3.88)

• North Dakota ($3.89)

• Iowa ($3.89)

• Minnesota ($3.93) 

• South Dakota ($3.95)   

• Colorado ($3.96)     

Even though oil prices have pulled back from their recent high, gasoline prices are still catching up. That's causing motorists everywhere to suffer sticker shock at the gas pump this week.

With most Russian oil finding no buyers because of that country’s war against Ukraine, fuel prices have yet to find a top. AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas today is $4.33 a gallon, up 50 cents from last Friday.

The average price of premium gas is $4.95 a gallon, 57 cents a gallon higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel has risen even faster, with the average price now sitting at $5.13 a gallon, up 87 cents over the last seven days.

While every state saw double-digit increases in average gas prices, in some states the move was stunning. The statewide average increased by 65 cents a gallon in Arizona, 62 cents a gallon in California, and 50 cents a gallon in Alaska.

New survey data from AAA shows that two-thirds of Americans believed gas prices were too expensive just a few weeks ago at $3.53 per gallon. With the national average at an all-time high, AAA says Americans may have reached a tipping point. 

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported on Monday that demand had fallen sharply – as much as 11%. He said it was too early to tell whether the sharp increase in prices was destroying demand.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.69)   

• Nevada ($4.87)  

• Hawaii ($4.81)      

• Oregon ($4.72)  

• Washington ($4.70)      

• Alaska ($4.68)   

• Illinois ($4.57)   

• Arizona ($4.55)      

• Connecticut ($4.48)   

• New York ($4.47) 

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Kansas ($3.82)

• Oklahoma ($3.85)

• Missouri ($3.85)

• North Dakota ($3.89)

• Arkansas ($3.90)

• Nebraska ($3.91)

• Iowa ($3.92)

• Colorado ($3.95)

• South Dakota ($3.95)   

• Minnesota ($3.96)      

The surge in the price of gasoline, which began last week, picked up speed over the weekend. The AAA national average price of regular today is $4.06 a gallon, the highest level since just before the financial crisis in 2008.

Today’s average price is 45 cents a gallon more than last Monday, and it’s 62 cents a gallon more than the average price a month ago. That means someone filling up with 15 gallons today is paying nearly $10 more per fill-up than in early February.

‘No place where prices might not be affected’

The impact on consumers in the coming weeks is likely to extend far beyond the cost of filling a gas tank, according to economist Joel Naroff, of Naroff Economics. Rising fuel costs will weigh on an already over-burdened supply chain, making it more costly to deliver food to supermarkets and consumer products to big-box stores. At some point, those higher costs are likely to be passed along to consumers.

“There is almost no place where prices might not be affected,” Naroff told ConsumerAffairs. “The obvious are energy and food, given Russia’s importance as an energy exporter and Ukraine’s importance in supplying grain to Europe.  In a global economy, a shortage in one part of the world leads to rising demand in others and the price shock is spread across the world.”

Naroff says there are also secondary and tertiary effects that will result in higher prices across a broad spectrum. He says consumers should prepare for higher prices from businesses that aren’t that affected by global events. 

“For the first time in decades, firms have pricing power and they know how to use it,” he said. “It is not just firms that are directly or even indirectly affected by energy and food prices. Every firm sees it can raise prices and get away with it because so many other firms are raising prices, so they do it also. It is likely to get uglier and more widespread before it gets better.”

No sanctions yet on Russian oil

Fuel prices are surging because oil prices have skyrocketed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But Troy Vincent, a Senior Market Analyst at DTN, a data, analytics, and technology company, notes that the sanctions the West has imposed on Russia don’t yet include its vast oil exports. 

“Even though sanctioning Russian energy exports would be one of last resort given that it’s the most globally devastating sanction option, as the risk of doing business with Russia rises, so do oil prices,” Vincent recently told ConsumerAffairs. “Even without outright sanctions on oil and gas exports, already many global oil buyers are avoiding cargoes of Russian oils as these trades become increasingly scrutinized and avoided by creditors, insurers, and shippers.”

Meanwhile, the record-high average price of gasoline could be breached as early as Tuesday, energy experts say. The AAA average has moved between six cents and 10 cents a gallon per day. Another similar move would put the average price of gas just over the $4.11 per gallon mark recorded in July 2008, which as of the moment is the record high.

The price of gasoline, which had slowly moved higher since the start of the year, shifted into overdrive this week as Russian forces fought to take over Ukraine. In the U.S., nearly every state experienced a double-digit increase in gas prices.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $2.83 a gallon, an increase of 26 cents a gallon in the last seven days and a 10-cent increase since Thursday.

The average price of premium gas is $4.38 a gallon, 20 cents more than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $4.26 a gallon, 29 cents a gallon higher than a week ago.

Gasoline prices are surging because the price of oil has risen sharply in the wake of Russia’s invasion. It’s expected that Western sanctions against Moscow will reduce the amount of Russian oil sold on world markets.

On Twitter, GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reported that the average price of gas had broken $5 a gallon in San Francisco. Within hours of DeHaan’s post, the average price of regular rose past $5 a gallon for the entire state of California.

DeHaan said GasBuddy had raised its “forecast for the yearly national average to $3.99 gallon from $3.41, with the average household to spend $2,745 on gasoline, up from $1,977 in 2021.”

AAA reports that another driver of retail gasoline prices is rising demand from U.S. motorists, which is occurring while fuel supplies are declining.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($5.07)   

• Hawaii ($4.66)      

• Oregon ($4.29) 

• Nevada ($4.28) 

• Washington ($4.22)       

• Alaska ($4.18)   

• Illinois ($4.10) 

• New York ($4.05) 

• Arizona ($3.90)      

• Pennsylvania ($3.88)   

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Arkansas ($3.44) 

• Oklahoma ($3.45)

• Missouri ($3.48)
• Texas ($3.49)

• Mississippi ($3.51)

•  Kansas ($3.53)

• Wisconsin ($3.54) 

• Wyoming ($3.57)      

• North Dakota ($3.58)

• South Dakota ($3.59)   

Russia has invaded Ukraine, and world oil markets have reacted by sending the price of oil beyond $100 a barrel. Motorists are beginning to see the impact at the gas pump.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.57 a gallon, a five-cent increase over last Friday. The average price is 24 cents higher over the last four weeks.

The average price of premium gas is $4.17, an increase of four cents a gallon over the last week. The average price of diesel fuel gained four cents a gallon this week, to $3.97 a gallon.

Oil prices are surging on the expectation that Western sanctions against Russia will reduce the amount of its oil it will be able to sell. Arij Van Berkel, vice president and group director of the Energy Research Team at Lux Research, says those sanctions will be costly for consumers.

“If the supply of gas from Russia is not available for the coming years, then gas prices will continue to be high,” Van Berkel told ConsumerAffairs. “The sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine will result in continued high gas prices.”

Russia currently accounts for about 12% of the world’s oil supply. Van Berkel says the loss of that much oil will prove to be a shock.

Troy Vincent is a Senior Market Analyst at DTN, a data, analytics, and technology company. He says an increase in U.S. oil production is limited in the relief it could provide to consumers.

“U.S. crude oil production has increased 600,000 barrels per day over the past 12 months and is expected to continue to rise another 750,000 barrels per day this year,” he told ConsumerAffairs. “However, in the event of an immediate and sharp halt to Russian oil exports, there simply are no immediate global alternatives to these volumes that do not entail a tighter global market and higher prices.”

That means the rise in gasoline prices could only be in the early stages.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.77)   

• Hawaii ($4.54)      

• Oregon ($4.00) 

• Washington ($3.98)       

• Nevada ($3.98)     

• Alaska ($3.87)   

• New York ($3.76) 

• Pennsylvania ($3.74) 

• Arizona ($3.74)      

• Illinois ($3.71)     

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Arkansas ($3.20) 

• Mississippi ($3.21)

• Texas ($3.21)

• Oklahoma ($3.21)

• Missouri ($3.22) 

• Kentucky ($3.22

• Kansas ($3.25)   

• Wisconsin ($3.29)    

• Tennessee ($3.29)

• Alabama ($3.30)   

With no letup in tensions between Russia and Ukraine, oil prices keep moving higher, and with them, the price consumers pay at the gasoline pump.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.52 a gallon. That’s four cents a gallon more than last Friday and 22 cents higher than four weeks ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.13 a gallon, also four cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.93 a gallon, seven cents a gallon more than a week ago -- and it's rising much faster than gasoline over the last few weeks.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would result in sanctions on Russia, vastly reducing the amount of oil it could sell. Since supplies are already tight, that would likely send oil prices even higher in the months ahead.

At the same time, Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reports that U.S. gasoline demand is getting stronger, which could put more upward pressure on prices. DeHaan says gas prices are falling in the Great Lakes region because refineries are trying to unload the last of their winter fuel grades.

Elsewhere, prices have surged in the last seven days. The statewide average price of regular is up nine cents a gallon in New York. It’s up seven cents in Alabama, Hawaii, and Texas; six cents in Pennsylvania and Mississippi; and five cents in Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.72)   

• Hawaii ($4.59)       

• Oregon ($3.98) 

• Washington ($3.97)       

• Nevada ($3.93)     

• Alaska ($3.84)   

• New York ($3.74) 

• Pennsylvania ($3.72) 

• Arizona ($3.71)      

• Illinois ($3.71)     

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($3.18) 

• Arkansas ($3.20)   

• Oklahoma ($3.20)

• Mississippi ($3.20)

• Kansas ($3.21)

• Texas ($3.22)     

• Ohio ($3.22)    

• Kentucky ($3.23)   

• Alabama ($3.28)   

• Tennessee ($3.29)

The last two weeks have seen major increases in prices at the pump in most areas. Motorists across the country are experiencing sticker shock when they fill up.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.48 a gallon, nearly matching the previous week’s seven-cent increase. The average price is up 17 cents a gallon over the last four weeks. The average price of premium gas is $4.09 a gallon, posting a seven cents a gallon increase over last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.87 a gallon, a 10 cents a gallon increase over a week ago.

AAA attributes the accelerated price increases to rising oil prices, which in turn are being pushed higher by tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Russia, a major oil producer, could face sanctions from the West if it invades Ukraine, removing millions of barrels of oil from the world market.

“This shows how events on the other side of the globe can have a noticeable impact right here in the U.S,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “And unfortunately for drivers, they are reminded of this by higher prices at the pump.” 

In the last week, drivers in Tennessee saw the biggest price hike, with the statewide average rising 13 cents a gallon. The price is up 10 cents a gallon in Mississippi and nine cents in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Alabama.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.68)   

• Hawaii ($4.43)    

• Washington ($3.95)  

• Oregon ($3.93)   

• Nevada ($3.88)    

• Alaska ($3.79)   

• Arizona ($3.66)     

• Illinois ($3.66)   

• Pennsylvania ($3.66)  

• New York ($3.65)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($3.14)  

• Texas ($3.15)     

• Arkansas ($3.15)   

• Oklahoma ($3.15)   

• Missouri ($3.16)  

• Kansas ($3.17)   

• Kentucky ($3.20)   

• Alabama ($3.21)   

• Tennessee ($3.24)   

• Wisconsin ($3.24)    

Geopolitical tensions and supply chain issues continue to put upward pressure on gasoline prices, and the pace of those rising prices “hit the gas” this week. Some states saw double-digit price increases.

AAA’s daily fuel price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.42 a gallon, about seven cents a gallon higher than last Friday. That’s 13 cents higher than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $4.02 a gallon, five cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.76, six cents higher than a week ago.

Oil prices continue to go up because of tensions with Russia, a major oil producer. If the West places sanctions on Russia, the result could be a lot less oil on world markets.

“At the moment, only one person knows why Russia is threatening Ukraine, and that’s Russian President Vladimir Putin,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “And the tensions along the Ukrainian border have helped push crude oil prices higher almost daily.”  

Consumers are feeling the impact in some states more than others. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported this week on Twitter that Napa, California, was  “just 18c/gal away from reaching $5/gal average #gasprices... would be the first city ever.”

Meanwhile, motorists in Kentucky and Tennessee saw prices rise an average of 12 cents a gallon this week. The statewide average rose 11 cents in Missouri and eight cents in Alabama and South Carolina.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.65)   

• Hawaii ($4.41)    

• Washington ($3.95)  

• Oregon ($3.92)   

• Nevada ($3.83)    

• Alaska ($3.78)   

• Arizona ($3.62)     

• Illinois ($3.61) 

• Pennsylvania ($3.57)

• Idaho ($3.52)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($3.04)  

• Texas ($3.07)     

• Arkansas ($3.07)   

• Oklahoma ($3.09) 

• Kentucky ($3.11)   

• Tennessee ($3.11)   

• Missouri ($3.11)    

• Alabama ($3.12)   

• Kansas ($3.14)       

• South Carolina ($3.15)     

Geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine are keeping oil prices rising, and that, in turn, is keeping gas prices elevated.

AAA’s daily gasoline survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.34 a gallon, another two cents a gallon higher than last Friday. The average price has increased by that amount in each of the last four weeks. The average price of premium gas is $3.98 a gallon, three cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.69 a gallon, another five cents a gallon higher than a week ago.

With refineries’ switch to summer-grade blends not too many weeks away and potential demand increasing, chances are good that the price increases won’t end anytime soon. U.S. energy officials say the rise of Omicron variant cases has kept gasoline demand in check, but demand should increase as cases decline.

In the last week, the statewide average price of regular gas rose five cents a gallon in Missouri and South Carolina. It was up four cents in Hawaii and Kansas. Meanwhile, drivers in Tennessee saw prices at the pump decline by an average of four cents a gallon.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.63)   

• Hawaii ($4.38)    

• Washington ($3.95)  

• Oregon ($3.93)   

• Nevada ($3.79)   

• Alaska ($3.78)   

• Arizona ($3.56)      

• Idaho ($3.53)

• Pennsylvania ($3.52)

• New York ($3.51)    

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($3.00)   

• Mississippi ($2.99)

• Arkansas ($3.00)   

• Kentucky ($2.99)  

• Oklahoma ($3.02)    

• Missouri ($3.05)    

• Alabama ($3.04)  

• South Carolina ($3.07)   

• Kansas ($3.07)      

• Tennessee ($2.99)   

Outside of a couple of states, motorists saw little change in gasoline prices this week. But the trends don’t look promising for the future.

The AAA daily survey of gasoline prices shows that the national average price of regular rose two cents a gallon this week to $3.32 a gallon, nearly the same as a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.95 a gallon, a penny more than seven days ago. Diesel fuel showed the biggest one-week move, rising five cents a gallon to $3.65.

The relatively stable gas prices come amid a backdrop of steadily rising oil prices. Gasoline demand has been stable, but Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, tweeted this week that there are signs that demand could be about to take off.

“Going to be interesting to see this week's EIA (Energy Information Administration) implied gasoline demand number given that last Friday saw a big 10%+ surge in demand vs prior week according to GasBuddy data,” he wrote on Thursday.

Oklahoma motorists saw one of the week’s biggest fuel price increases, with the statewide average gas price rising seven cents a gallon. The average price was up four cents a gallon in Arkansas but down four cents in Ohio.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.65)   

• Hawaii ($4.34)  

• Washington ($3.96)  

• Oregon ($3.92)   

• Nevada ($3.81)   

• Alaska ($3.78)   

• Arizona ($3.57)      

• Idaho ($3.54)

• Pennsylvania ($3.52)

• New York ($3.48)    

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.96)   

• Mississippi ($2.96)

• Arkansas ($2.97)   

• Kentucky ($2.98)  

• Oklahoma ($3.00)    

• Missouri ($3.00)  

• Alabama ($3.01) 

• South Carolina ($3.02)

• Kansas ($3.03)

• Tennessee ($3.03)

The price of oil is marching higher again, crossing $80 a barrel this week. Despite that, gasoline prices remain stable, though at an elevated level.

AAA’s daily survey of gas prices shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.30 a gallon, the same as last Friday. It’s three cents lower than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.94 a gallon, a penny a gallon higher than last week. The price of diesel fuel is $3.59 a gallon, two cents more than a week ago.

Events outside U.S. borders are fueling the recent rise in oil prices. Social unrest and violence in Kazakhstan, a member of the OPEC+ alliance, have forced that nation to cut production. 

“Markets, in general, don’t like uncertainty and volatility, and the oil market is no exception,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “The oil production cuts by Kazakhstan demonstrate that in times of tight supply, it doesn’t take much to put upward pressure on the overall price of oil.”

Despite the stability in the national average gas price, motorists in some states saw significant price swings. The statewide average gasoline price rose six cents a gallon in Oregon. It was up by five cents this week in Washington and Alaska.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.65)   

• Hawaii ($4.34)  

• Washington ($3.95)  

• Oregon ($3.91)   

• Nevada ($3.81)   

• Alaska ($3.76)   

• Arizona ($3.59)      

• Idaho ($3.55)

• Pennsylvania ($3.52)

• Massachusetts ($3.49)    

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.92)   

• Oklahoma ($2.93)   

• Arkansas ($2.93)  

• Mississippi ($2.94)

• Missouri ($2.96)  

•  Kentucky ($2.98)   

•  Kansas ($2.98)

• Alabama ($2.99) 

•  South Carolina ($3.01)

• Tennessee ($3.02)

Holiday motorists faced the highest gasoline prices since 2013, but one energy expert who tracks prices says the national average could exceed $4 a gallon in the first half of 2022.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says an improving economy will fuel the increase. His forecast is at odds with the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast, which in November predicted gas prices would slide below $3 a gallon early in the year.

Meanwhile, motorists traveling over the extended New Year’s holiday will find mostly stable fuel prices. In its daily survey, AAA shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.28 a gallon, a penny less than seven days ago. The average price of premium gas is also a penny per gallon cheaper than a week ago, at $3.92 a gallon. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.57 a gallon, the same as last week.

Most states have seen little price movement in the last week. Arizona is an exception, where the statewide average is down by five cents a gallon in the last week. The average price fell four cents a gallon in Utah and Ohio.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.65)   

• Hawaii ($4.33)  

• Nevada ($3.84)   

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Oregon ($3.77) 

• Arizona ($3.64)      

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Idaho ($3.57)

• Pennsylvania ($3.53)

• Utah ($3.50)    

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.87)  

• Oklahoma ($2.87)  

• Arkansas ($2.91)  

• Missouri ($2.92)  

• Mississippi ($2.94)

•  Kentucky ($2.93)

•  Kansas ($2.96)

•  Wisconsin ($2.99)

•  Ohio($2.99)  

• Tennessee ($2.99)

Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 across the U.S., AAA predicts that more than 109 million people in the U.S. will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holidays, the vast majority on the nation’s highways. That would be a 34% increase over 2020.

“Americans who canceled their vacations in 2020 want to gather with family and friends for the holidays this year, although they will still be mindful of the pandemic and the new omicron variant,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “With vaccines widely available, conditions are much different and many people feel a greater level of comfort with travel.”

Those traveling by car will find the highest Christmas season gasoline prices since 2013. December normally has some of the lowest gas prices of the year, but 2021 has been an exception for a variety of reasons.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.29 a gallon, a decline of only two cents a gallon in the last seven days. After peaking at $3.42 a gallon, gasoline has been slow to give up its gains. The average price of premium gas is $3.94 a gallon while the average price of diesel fuel is $3.58 a gallon. Both fuels have matched regular’s slow descent.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.66)   

• Hawaii ($4.33)  

• Nevada ($3.86)   

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Oregon ($3.76) 

• Arizona ($3.69)     

• Alaska ($3.70) 

• Idaho ($3.60)

• Pennsylvania ($3.55)

• Utah ($3.54)     

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.89)  

• Oklahoma ($2.90)  

• Arkansas ($2.92)  

• Missouri ($2.94)  

• Mississippi ($2.95)

•  Kentucky ($2.96)

•  Kansas ($2.98)

•  Wisconsin ($2.98)

•  South Carolina ($3.00)  

• Tennessee ($3.00)

After jumping to the highest level in seven years over the summer and fall, gasoline prices are starting to come down. But they are still high enough to cause pain at the gas pump.

In its daily survey of gasoline prices, AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.31 a gallon. That’s two cents higher than last Friday and 10 cents a gallon lower than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is also down two cents a gallon from last week, at $3.95. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.59 a gallon, a penny less than a week ago.

AAA reports that gasoline demand is rising and that fuel supplies went down over the last seven days. That would usually result in higher gasoline prices, but oil prices, the biggest factor in gasoline prices, continue to fall.

Around the nation, fuel prices were fairly stable this week. The statewide average price was down four cents a gallon in Arizona and Utah, and down three cents a gallon in Arkansas. Even if prices continue to fall at the same rate, holiday travelers will face the highest Christmastime gas prices in years.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.67)   

• Hawaii ($4.34)  

• Nevada ($3.87)   

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Oregon ($3.77) 

• Arizona ($3.72)     

• Alaska ($3.71) 

• Idaho ($3.62)

• Utah ($3.56)     

• Pennsylvania ($3.55)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.90)  

• Oklahoma ($2.91)  

• Arkansas ($2.93)  

• Missouri ($2.96)  

• Mississippi ($2.97)

•  Kentucky ($2.98)

•  Kansas ($2.99)

•  Wisconsin ($3.00)

•  South Carolina ($3.01)  

• Tennessee ($3.02)

Motorists are seeing lower gasoline prices just about everywhere, as concern about a winter COVID-19 flare-up has brought down oil prices. Six states now have average gas prices below $3 a gallon.

AAA’s daily gas price survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.33 a gallon, four cents lower than a week ago. It’s about nine cents a gallon less than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.97 a gallon, down from $4.01 last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.60, down three cents from last week.

This week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued a forecast for 2022 and predicted that gasoline prices would fall below $3 a gallon in the first quarter of the year. A handful of states are already there.

Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Mississippi have statewide averages below the $3 a gallon level. California still has the highest gas prices in the country, but the statewide average fell this week for the first time in months. South Carolina and Wisconsin saw the biggest price declines this week, as the statewide average in both states declined by seven cents a gallon.

“Consumers may be catching a break at the pump right now, but it’s not for a very good reason,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “A potential COVID-19 induced economic slowdown hurts everyone and could prompt OPEC to slash production if oil prices drop too low.”

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.68)   

• Hawaii ($4.34)  

• Nevada ($3.90)   

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Arizona ($3.76)      

• Alaska ($3.70) 

• Idaho ($3.64)

• Utah ($3.60)      

• Pennsylvania ($3.56)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($2.91)  

• Texas ($2.92)  

• Arkansas ($2.96)  

• Missouri ($2.96)  

•  Kansas ($2.98) 

• Mississippi ($2.99)

• Kentucky ($3.00) 

•  South Carolina ($3.01)  

• Wisconsin ($3.02) 

• Tennessee ($3.04)

Just in time for the holidays, motorists are getting a slight break at the gas pump. As oil prices plunged this week, the price of gasoline began to go down.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.37 a gallon, two cents lower than last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $4.00, two cents less than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is also two cents less than last week, at $3.62 a gallon.

Oil prices began falling late last week when news broke about the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The market feared that the new variant would slow economic growth, something at this point that is far from certain.

“It’s too soon to tell if fears of a global economic slowdown caused by the Omicron variant will push oil prices lower for the long term,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. “But for now, the upward pricing pressure due to tightened supply and high demand seems to have abated, and that will likely result in pump prices stabilizing.”

While the national average drifted only slightly lower during the week, motorists in a handful of states enjoyed sharper declines. The statewide average fell six cents a gallon in Missouri and is four cents lower in Utah, Texas, and Kansas. Meanwhile, the statewide average rose four cents a gallon in Arizona, where prices have risen 25 cents a gallon over the last four weeks.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.70)   

• Hawaii ($4.36)  

• Nevada ($3.95) 

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Oregon ($3.79) 

• Arizona ($3.79)      

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Idaho ($3.67)

• Utah ($3.65)      

• Pennsylvania ($3.58)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($2.96) 

• Texas ($2.97)  

• Arkansas ($3.00)  

• Missouri ($3.01)  

•  Kansas ($3.02) 

• Mississippi ($3.03)

• Kentucky ($3.06)

•  South Carolina ($3.08)  

• Wisconsin ($3.09)

• Tennessee ($3.09)

Motorists traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday will encounter the highest fuel prices since Thanksgiving 2014. While prices appear to have stopped rising, they have not gone down significantly since the end of the summer driving season.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.40 a gallon, with the highest price being paid in California, at $4.70; the lowest average price comes in at $2.96 a gallon in Oklahoma. The average price of premium gas is holding steady at $4.03 a gallon, and the average price of diesel fuel is also stable at $3.64 a gallon.

On a positive note for drivers, oil prices began the week with a sharp decline. U.S. oil prices have been over $80 a barrel for several weeks, but they began the week with prices in the high 70s.

“The price of crude oil accounts for about 50% to 60% of what consumers pay at the pump, so a lower oil price should translate into better gasoline prices for drivers,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “But until global oil production ramps back up to pre-pandemic levels, this recent dip in the price of crude may only be temporary.” 

With millions of people driving to visit relatives this week, demand may put a dent in supply. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. gasoline supplies fell by 700,000 barrels last week. Meanwhile, AAA predicts that Thanksgiving week travel will return to pre-pandemic levels.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.70)   

• Hawaii ($4.34)  

• Nevada ($3.98) 

• Washington ($3.88) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Arizona ($3.74) 

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Utah ($3.69)

• Idaho ($3.68)

• Pennsylvania ($3.60)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($2.96) 

• Texas ($3.01)  

• Arkansas ($3.03)  

• Mississippi ($3.06)

•  Kansas ($3.06)

• Missouri ($3.07) 

• Kentucky ($3.07)

•  South Carolina ($3.11)  

• Wisconsin ($3.11)

• Tennessee ($3.11)

There’s plenty of pain at the gas pump, but at least it isn’t getting any worse. Prices have remained stable for another week.

AAA reports the national average price of regular gas is $3.41 a gallon, the same as last Friday. It’s only nine cents a gallon more than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $4.03 a gallon, in line with last week’s price. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.64, the same as a week ago.

The Biden administration this week asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate whether the oil industry has engaged in price manipulation. But industry analysts point out that demand has increased faster than supplies of fuel and U.S. producers are still in the process of ramping up production after a pandemic-induced slowdown.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reports that gasoline demand at the beginning of the week was at its highest level since the week of August 22.

Prices at the pump were mostly stable across the country this week, though there were exceptions. Motorists in Arizona saw prices rise an average of eight cents a gallon. In California, where prices are at a record high, the average price rose five cents a gallon this week.

Some states saw prices go down. Oklahoma maintained its status as the state with the cheapest gas, with a drop of four cents a gallon. Prices in Texas also went down by four cents this week.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.69)   

• Hawaii ($4.35)  

• Nevada ($3.98) 

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Oregon ($3.79) 

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Arizona ($3.72)  

• Utah ($3.70)

• Idaho ($3.69)

• Pennsylvania ($3.60)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($2.99) 

• Texas ($3.03)  

• Mississippi ($3.07)

• Arkansas ($3.08)   

• Missouri ($3.08) 

• Kansas ($3.09)

• Kentucky ($3.09)

•  South Carolina ($3.12)  

• Wisconsin ($3.13)

• Tennessee ($3.13) 

The Biden administration has decided to get tough on gas prices. The White House thinks that current prices are unacceptable and has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the situation.

"The Federal Trade Commission has authority to consider whether illegal conduct is costing families at the pump. I believe you should do so immediately," Biden wrote in a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan. 

"Prices at the pump have continued to rise, even as refined fuel costs go down and industry profits go up," he said. "In the last month, the price of unfinished gasoline is down more than 5 percent while gas prices at the pump are up 3 percent in that same period. This unexplained large gap between the price of unfinished gasoline and the average price at the pump is well above the pre-pandemic average."

Biden won’t likely settle for less than a complete deep dive from the FTC to find out if something illegal is happening in the marketplace.

"I do not accept hard-working Americans paying more for gas because of anti-competitive or otherwise potentially illegal conduct," Biden said in his letter. "I therefore ask that the Commission further examine what is happening with oil and gas markets, and that you bring all of the Commission's tools to bear if you uncover any wrongdoing."

Americans have to decide to drive or stay at home for Thanksgiving

With the pandemic situation having changed since last year, Thanksgiving 2021 is looking to be completely different from 2020. Many Americans seem to have their heart set on going somewhere to celebrate. 

Unfortunately, rising gas prices have increased the cost of driving substantially. Will consumers be willing to pay more at the pump, or will they ultimately decide to stay home and save the money?

In a new survey from Cars.com, 84% of the respondents who said they’re traveling for Thanksgiving stated that they’ll be driving. However, some are starting to rethink the situation because of the rise in gas prices. Among those surveyed, 50% said gas prices have some impact on their travel plans, and 12% said they won’t drive if gas prices get any higher.

The price of gasoline stabilized this week, adding almost nothing to weeks of steady gains that pushed prices at the pump to their highest levels since 2014.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.41 a gallon, about the same as last Friday. It’s gained about 15 cents a gallon over the last month. The average price of premium gas is $4.03 a gallon, a penny more than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.64 a gallon, the same as last week.

Prices might have started falling this week, but demand for fuel increased while gasoline supplies declined. GasBuddy reports that spot fuel prices are still going down, meaning relief for motorists may be in sight.

“Not everybody loves changing their household clocks for the end of Daylight Saving Time,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “But the shorter days could lead to lower demand for gas. Drivers may head straight home from work to avoid the darkness rather than tack on side trips for shopping or errands.”

Most states saw little movement in gas prices during the week, rising or falling by a couple of cents a gallon. Michigan experienced one of the biggest gas price increases of the week, with the average price rising 11 cents a gallon.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.64) 

• Hawaii ($4.35)  

• Nevada ($3.96) 

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Utah ($3.71)

• Idaho ($3.69)

• Arizona ($3.64)  

• Pennsylvania ($3.59)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($3.03) 

• Arkansas ($3.06) 

• Texas ($3.07) 

• Mississippi ($3.09)   

• Missouri ($3.10) 

• Kansas ($3.11)

• Kentucky ($3.11)    

• Wisconsin ($3.14)

• Tennessee ($3.14) 

•  South Carolina ($3.15) 

One by one, automakers and countries around the world are stepping up to say they’ll phase out sales of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2040. That number grew dramatically on Wednesday when six automobile manufacturers and 30 nations officially added their names to the list during international climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.

Automakers that recently agreed to the climate initiative include Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Bolivian electric car company Quantum Motors, and Volvo. 

Ford and General Motors, in particular, are taking the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) notion seriously. Both carmakers are planning a bevy of new ZEV models "because they see they will lose market share if they don't," Commissioner Tremaine Phillips of the Michigan Public Service Commission told SmartCitiesDive. "Those automakers have committed to a decades-long, billion-dollar transition, which tells me the vehicles are coming."

Many countries agree to phase out gas-powered vehicles

On the government side, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Poland have also agreed to phase out gas-powered vehicles. Forty municipalities, states, and regional governments also added their name to the list. Those signing on to the initiative include Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Barcelona, Dallas, New York City, Rome, San Diego, San Francisco, and the states of California, New York, and Washington. 

“Together, we welcome the new opportunities for clean growth, green jobs and public health benefits from improving air quality; and that this transition could also boost energy security and help balance electricity grids as we make the transition to clean power,” the various governments said in their declaration.

The collective said it’s going to work as a unit and help others out -- like Turkey, Kenya, and Mexico -- “so that no country or community is left behind.”

Some of the “leading markets” promised to honor their commitment by 2035, and fleet owners and operators -- like Uber -- said they will work towards 100% of their car and van fleets being zero-emission vehicles by 2030.

Who’s missing?

The exceptions to the list are glaring: On the automaker side, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Nissan-Renault have not committed to eliminating gas-powered vehicles. 

Toyota and VW’s lack of commitment is interesting since those companies had made it a point to trumpet their support of electric vehicles earlier this year. VW had announced that it was going all-electric by 2030, and Toyota said it was making a major investment in electric vehicles.

Three major countries -- the U.S., China, and Japan -- also abstained from signing on, possibly because Toyota, VW, and Nissan all have factories in those countries.  

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the Biden administration is considering withdrawals from the U.S. petroleum reserve in an effort to bring down gasoline prices, which have been at seven-year highs since early summer.

Interviewed on CNN Sunday, Granholm said the administration is considering a wide range of options to reduce the pain at the pump. She noted that OPEC rejected a request from Washington to increase oil production, which she said is keeping prices high.

"That is going to increase the chokehold on access to affordable fuel at the pump, and so the president is looking at all of the tools that he has," Granholm said. 

Critics point to a potential disaster

But Rick Perry, who served as energy secretary during the Trump administration, says the current administration isn’t doing everything possible to increase gasoline supplies. In an interview with CNBC, he said the administration is reducing U.S. energy output and setting up a potential “disaster.”

“The Biden administration’s restrictive actions — no to pipelines, no to drilling, no to the financing of oil and gas projects overseas ... is a stunning reversal of the energy independence achieved under the Trump administration,” Perry said.

Higher fuel costs have begun to feed inflation, directly affecting the cost of other goods and services. Several people posting reviews of auto transport companies have attributed the higher costs they faced to surging fuel prices.

“The price was a little high,” Astrid, of Yonkers, N.Y., wrote in a recent review of Montway Auto Transport. “However, given this situation with gas prices, I guess it is what it is. I needed to move, so I paid it.”

Prepare for higher heating bills

While there might be immediate relief at the pump for consumers, Granholm also warns that Americans should be prepared for higher heating bills this winter. Natural gas prices have doubled from last winter, while oil and propane costs have risen at least as much.

Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $3.37 billion in relief funds through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income individuals and families deal with rising utility bills. Officials said they may be able to tap additional funds from other programs to help.

Economists say global oil and gas production hasn’t increased as quickly as demand as the world recovers from the pandemic. Supply chain bottlenecks have also contributed to higher costs.

Gasoline prices rose again last week, but motorists can take comfort in the fact that the increase was the smallest in the last month.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.42 a gallon, about two cents more than last Friday. It’s more than 20 cents higher than the average price a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $4.02 a gallon, a penny more than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.64 a gallon, two cents more than a week ago.

Gas prices have risen over the last few weeks, along with oil prices. But oil supplies are expected to grow, which could mean gas prices have peaked.

“We have finally seen a little dip in domestic demand for gasoline, which may signal that the seasonal post-Labor Day easing was a little delayed this year,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “And if the recent steady increase in crude oil prices takes a breather too, consumers may benefit at the pump with smaller price hikes.” 

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, has already seen the first signs of falling prices. At midweek, he reported “large” declines in spot gasoline prices in all regions of the U.S.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.62) 

• Hawaii ($4.33)  

• Nevada ($3.95) 

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Utah ($3.73)

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Idaho ($3.70)

• Illinois ($3.57)  

• Pennsylvania ($3.57)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Oklahoma ($3.04) 

• Texas ($3.07) 

• Arkansas ($3.07) 

• Mississippi ($3.10)   

• Kansas ($3.12)

• Kentucky ($3.13)  

• Missouri ($3.13)   

• Wisconsin ($3.15)

• Tennessee ($3.15) 

•  Louisiana ($3.17) 

Motorists who are gassing up ahead of the Halloween weekend will find frightful prices at the pump. Even though gas prices rose more slowly this week than last, they remain at a seven-year high.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.40 a gallon, three cents higher than last week. A year ago, consumers were paying $2.15 a gallon. The average price of premium gas is $4.01 a gallon, four cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.62 a gallon, also four cents a gallon higher than a week ago.

According to AAA, gas prices have gone up every day for the last month. There may be little relief until fuel supplies catch up with demand

“With the U.S. economy slowly recovering from the depths of the pandemic, demand for gas is robust, but the supply is tight,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “We haven’t seen prices this high since September of 2014.”

Even though the average price of gasoline is higher this week, some states saw little to no increase from the prior week. The exceptions are Missouri, where the average price jumped seven cents a gallon, and Hawaii and Mississippi, where the average price at the pump is up six cents a gallon in the last seven days.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.58) 

• Hawaii ($4.30)  

• Nevada ($3.93) 

• Washington ($3.88) 

• Oregon ($3.79) 

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Utah ($3.74)

• Idaho ($3.71)

• Illinois ($3.57)  

• Pennsylvania ($3.57)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

•  Oklahoma ($3.02) 

• Texas ($3.05) 

• Arkansas ($3.06) 

• Mississippi ($3.09)   

• Kansas ($3.11)

• Kentucky ($3.11)  

• Missouri ($3.12)   

• Wisconsin ($3.14)

• Minnesota ($3.15) 

•  Louisiana ($3.16) 

Motorists continue to encounter rising gasoline prices no matter where they live. Prices rose sharply across the country during the last week.

AAA’s daily gas price update shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.37 a gallon, about seven cents a gallon higher than last Friday. It’s about 18 cents higher than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.98 a gallon, about seven cents a gallon more than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.58 a gallon, rising eight cents a gallon over the last week.

“At this point, OPEC is carefully orchestrating a global economic slowdown and energy crunch by holding oil production down,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddyreported on Twitter. “They control a third of global production, after all. Feels like those insanely lofty predictions of triple digits could come true.”

Longstanding price stability disappeared in many parts of the country this week. The statewide average price rose eight cents a gallon in California, Hawaii, and Mississippi. The Central Coast community of Gorda, Calif., which has only one gas station, was selling gas this week for $7.59 a gallon.

Texas still has the cheapest gas in the nation, but its average price surged 10 cents a gallon in the last seven days.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.53) 

• Hawaii ($4.24)  

• Nevada ($3.91) 

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Idaho ($3.71)

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Utah ($3.69)

• Illinois ($3.55)  

• Pennsylvania ($3.54)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($3.02)  

• Mississippi ($3.03)  

• Arkansas ($3.01) 

• Oklahoma ($3.01)  

• Missouri ($3.05)  

• Kansas ($3.07)

• Kentucky ($3.10) 

• Louisiana ($3.13) 

• Minnesota ($3.13) 

• South Carolina ($3.13) 

Gas prices hit the accelerator again this week with another sharp gain, putting it at its highest level since 2014.

AAA’s daily gas price report shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.30 a gallon, four cents more than last Friday and 13 cents more than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.91 a gallon, up six cents a gallon from last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.51 a gallon, eight cents a gallon higher than a week ago.

Prices are climbing even though motorists appear to be driving less. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported on Twitter that U.S. gasoline demand fell 3.5% in September compared to August.

However, supplies remain tight because refineries are producing less gasoline. DeHaan says refinery utilization is down in several parts of the country.

That may be responsible for sharp price increases in several states where prices had been among the lowest in the country. In Alabama, the statewide average price of regular gained 11 cents a gallon this week. The average price is up nine cents a gallon in Louisiana and South Carolina.

AAA Spokesperson Andrew Gross says drivers may face more pain at the pump in the coming weeks as oil continues to get more expensive.

“The key driver for this recent rise in the price of gas is crude oil, which typically accounts for between 50% and 60% of the price at the pump,” Gross said. “And last week’s decision by OPEC and its oil-producing allies to not increase production further only exacerbated the upward momentum for crude oil prices.”

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.45)

• Hawaii ($4.16)

• Nevada ($3.87)

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Oregon ($3.76) 

• Idaho ($3.72)

• Utah ($3.71)

• Alaska ($3.71) 

• Colorado ($3.52)  

• Wyoming ($3.51)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.92)  

• Mississippi ($2.95)  

• Arkansas ($2.95) 

• Oklahoma ($2.95)  

• Missouri ($2.97)  

• Kansas ($3.00)

• Tennessee ($3.03) 

• Louisiana ($3.04) 

• Alabama ($3.06) 

• South Carolina ($3.06) 

After being stable for more than two months, the price of gasoline moved sharply higher in the last week, hitting its highest level in seven years.

AAA’s daily price tracker shows that the national average price of regular gas is $2.26 a gallon, seven cents a gallon more than last Friday. It’s $1.09 a gallon more than a year ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.86 a gallon, five cents a gallon more than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.43 a gallon, 10 cents a gallon more than last week.

Oil prices have moved higher in the last month as the world finds itself in a growing energy crunch. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, notes that prices are moving higher despite relatively low demand. He predicts that the national average price of regular could hit $3.30 a gallon next week.

“Global economic uncertainty and supply chain concerns caused by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic could be playing a role in keeping crude oil prices elevated,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But, there may be some relief on the horizon due to the news that OPEC and its allies might ramp up production increases faster than previously agreed.” 

But there was no sign of that relief this week, as nearly every state saw price increases. The statewide average jumped 15 cents a gallon in Kentucky, nine cents in Tennessee, eight cents in Alabama, seven cents in Missouri, six cents in Arkansas, and five cents in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.43)

• Hawaii ($4.12)

• Nevada ($3.88)

• Washington ($3.85) 

• Oregon ($3.74) 

• Idaho ($3.73)

• Utah ($3.71)

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.53)  

• Wyoming ($3.51)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.87)  

• Texas ($2.87)  

• Arkansas ($2.90)  

• Oklahoma ($2.91)  

• Missouri ($2.94)  

• Alabama ($2.95) 

• Louisiana ($2.95)

• Kansas ($2.96)

• South Carolina ($2.97) 

• Tennessee ($2.98) 

When the leaves begin to turn and kids head back to school, motorists can usually look forward to declining prices at the gas pump. But it’s not happening this year.

AAA’s daily gas price monitor shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.19 a gallon, the same as last Friday. That’s close to its summertime high. The average price of premium gas is $3.81 a gallon, also not budging from last week’s price. The average price of diesel fuel is up three cents a gallon from last week’s price of $3.30.

Normally, prices begin to decline during the fall months. That’s usually because demand is lower and refineries have begun to switch over to cheaper winter grades of gasoline.

“Consumers should see the usual autumn relief at the pump,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. “But factor in that approximately 16% of crude production in the Gulf of Mexico is still shut down because of Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas and the concerns about what higher COVID cases could do to the economy, and this uncertainty is helping to keep oil prices elevated.”

Oil prices are another major factor. The price of crude keeps rising, with a current price point of over $70 a barrel. That makes each gallon of gasoline more expensive.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that gasoline supplies started the week with a slight increase, but that failed to have much impact nationally. The statewide average gas price is down three cents a gallon in Nevada and four cents a gallon in Kentucky.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.40)

• Hawaii ($4.08)

• Nevada ($3.89)

• Washington ($3.85) 

• Idaho ($3.74)

• Utah ($3.73)

• Oregon ($3.73) 

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.54)  

• Wyoming ($3.51)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.82)

• Texas ($2.82)

• Arkansas ($2.84)

• Oklahoma ($2.86)

• Missouri ($2.87)

• Alabama ($2.87)

• Tennessee ($2.89)

• Louisiana ($2.90)

• South Carolina ($2.91)

• Kentucky ($2.91)

The price of gasoline remains high, but at least it isn’t moving higher. However, the price remains near the high for the year.

AAA’s daily price update shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.19 a gallon, the same as last Friday. It’s a dollar more than at this time last year.

The average price of premium gas is $3.81 a gallon, the same as it was a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.31 a gallon, a penny more than last week.

GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, reported this week that gasoline demand was 0.6% lower over the last seven days. In fact, he said it was 0.6% lower than the previous four Wednesdays.

Andrew Gross, a AAA spokesperson, notes back-to-back storms along the Gulf Coast slowed fuel production — a reason gas prices are not dropping during a period when demand traditionally falls.

“Hurricane Nicholas complicated and slowed the recovery from Ida, but the seasonal drop-off in demand helped mitigate price increases on the week,” Gross said. “We aren’t in the clear yet, though. We are only at the midpoint for hurricane season, and it has been an active one so far, with 17 named storms already. Motorists can expect price fluctuations into October.”

At the beginning of the week, about 23% of offshore Gulf of Mexico oil production remained offline. That’s contributed to the lowest stock level since the post-Hurricane Harvey period in 2017, according to AAA.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.07)

• Nevada ($3.92)

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Utah ($3.75)

• Idaho ($3.75)

• Oregon ($3.74) 

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.56)  

• Wyoming ($3.54)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.82)

• Texas ($2.82)

• Missouri ($2.85)

• Arkansas ($2.85)

• Oklahoma ($2.86)

• Alabama ($2.87)

• South Carolina ($2.90)

• Tennessee ($2.90)

• Louisiana ($2.90)

• Kansas ($2.92)

As summer begins to fade into the rearview mirror, gasoline prices have leveled off, even though oil prices have begun to rise again.

AAA’s daily check on prices shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.19 a gallon, just 1 cent higher than last Friday. It’s about a dollar a gallon more than a year ago, when the pandemic had cut into demand.

The average price of premium gas is $3.81 a gallon, a penny higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.30 a gallon, also 1 cent higher than last week.

The recovery from Hurricane Ida along the Gulf Coast has been slow. AAA reports refinery utilization is down by about 10%, reducing fuel supplies. Gasoline stock levels were down by 7.2 million barrels at the start of the week.

Even though prices are stable at the national level, they appear to be moving higher in parts of the Midwest. In Ohio, the average price of regular has jumped 10 cents a gallon in the last week. It’s 6 cents a gallon higher in Indiana.

“Timing is everything, and while supplies have tightened due to the slow recovery after Hurricane Ida, this is also the point when gas demand starts its seasonal decline,” said Jeanette McGee, a AAA spokesperson. “While there may be some price fluctuation, we expect most motorists to see stability at the pump."

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.07)

• Nevada ($3.96)

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Utah ($3.78)

• Idaho ($3.77)

• Oregon ($3.75) 

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.58)  

• Wyoming ($3.55)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.81) 

• Mississippi ($2.81)

• Missouri ($2.85)

• Arkansas ($2.85)

• Alabama ($2.86)

• Oklahoma ($2.86) 

• Tennessee ($2.89)

• Louisiana ($2.90)

• Kansas ($2.92)

• South Carolina ($2.92)

Aside from an increase of 5 cents per gallon in Louisiana, motorists saw little impact from Hurricane Ida at the pump this week. The shutdown of Gulf Coast refineries and the Colonial Pipeline did little to raise gas prices.

According to AAA, the average price of regular gas is $3.18 a gallon, the same as last Friday. Prices are down a penny a gallon from a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $3.80, the same as last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.29 a gallon, also the same as a week ago.

GasBuddy reported at midweek that gasoline demand is showing a significant decline and attributes much of the weakness to Hurricane Ida, which kept many motorists off the roads for a few days last week.

“Historically, gas demand starts to decline in the fall as schools reopen and summer road trips end, which leads to less expensive gas prices,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson. “Despite the dip in demand, the national average is expected to remain above $3 per gallon especially as crude oil continues to price on the higher end.”

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.07)

• Nevada ($4.00)

• Washington ($3.88) 

• Utah ($3.80)

• Idaho ($3.79)

• Oregon ($3.77) 

• Alaska ($3.70) 

• Colorado ($3.60)  

• Wyoming ($3.56)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.80)

• Texas ($2.82) 

• Missouri ($2.84) 

• Alabama ($2.84)

• Arkansas ($2.85)

• Oklahoma ($2.88) 

• Louisiana ($2.89)

• Tennessee ($2.90)

• South Carolina ($2.90)

• Kentucky ($2.91)

Consumers traveling over the Labor Day weekend will find rising gasoline prices, but they may not feel the full effects of Hurricane Ida’s battering on refineries along the Gulf Coast.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.18 a gallon, four cents more than a week ago. It’s only a penny higher than the price was a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.80 a gallon, two cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.28, a penny higher than a week ago.

The price stability is occurring despite the fact that most refineries in the path of the storm shut down for more than 24 hours. The Colonial Pipeline, which moves most of the fuel from the Gulf Coast to the Eastern Seaboard, also shut down temporarily. The pipeline resumed full operations on Tuesday.

One thing keeping prices in check is an increase in U.S. gasoline supplies. GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reported on Twitter Wednesday that for the week ending August 27, gas supplies increased by 1.3 million barrels. However, DeHaan says supplies in PADD 1, which covers the East Coast, have fallen 30% over two months.

“Until the power is restored, it’s too early to know the full impact of any damage Ida caused on the oil and gas industry, but motorists regionally can expect price fluctuations leading into Labor Day weekend,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson.

So far, prices in Louisiana haven’t risen that much. Prices in the Western states actually went down this week. The average price is up four cents a gallon in Tennessee and South Carolina. Kentucky, well out of the storm’s path, saw a nine cents a gallon jump.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.40)

• Hawaii ($4.07)

• Nevada ($4.03)

• Washington ($3.90) 

• Utah ($3.82)

• Idaho ($3.79)

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.61)  

• Wyoming ($3.57)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.78)

• Louisiana ($2.83)

• Texas ($2.80) 

• Alabama ($2.82)

• Missouri ($2.84)

• Arkansas ($2.84)

• Tennessee ($2.88) 4

• South Carolina ($2.88) 4

• Oklahoma ($2.88) 3

• Kansas ($2.91)

Hurricane Ida slammed New Orleans as it roared ashore Sunday, and motorists in many parts of the nation will feel the impact at the gas pump this week.

Gulf Coast refineries from Louisiana to Texas shut down operations in advance of the storm to limit the damage. The Colonial Pipeline, which moves gasoline from those refineries to wide areas of the eastern U.S., was also shut down as a precaution.

The company reported on Twitter that it had temporarily shut down its Lines 1 and 2 systems from Houston to Greensboro, N.C. Colonial said the rest of the network from North Carolina to New Jersey would continue to operate normally.

Gas prices likely to rise

The move will almost certainly increase the price of gasoline -- more in some areas than others. Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, was busy on Twitter overnight, posting his estimates for the cost of fuel.

DeHaan said there is a 75% chance that the national price of gasoline will rise five cents a gallon over the next couple of weeks; he said there was a 60% chance of a 10 cent increase. The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey already showed a one-cent per gallon increase by Monday morning, reversing a trend that had pushed prices lower by three cents a gallon during the previous week.

“Keeping in mind the storm hasn't cleared the area and storm assessments could change this, I still feel pretty confident in these figures,” DeHaan wrote. “Again, Hurricane Ida isn't likely to lead to drastic price increases, but some increases are likely over the next two weeks.”

The movement of fuel has stopped

The Colonial Pipeline shutdown is expected to be temporary, but even a brief interruption in the flow of fuel is likely to have some impact on prices. The pipeline supplies nearly half the fuel for East Coast markets.

Pipeline executives have not provided a date to resume operations, saying only that the fuel will flow again when it is safe to do so. In mid-May Colonial’s main pipeline was shut down by a ransomware attack that sent gasoline prices sharply higher.

Retail gasoline prices may also be further affected by a reduction in refinery production. Major refineries suspended an estimated 95% of their production Sunday as the storm approached the Gulf Coast.

The storm, which hit New Orleans on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, caused widespread property damage and knocked out power to most of the city. However, the city escaped the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Last week’s dramatic decline in oil prices paid dividends for drivers at the gas pump this week, with prices falling for the first time in over a month.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.14 a gallon, three cents lower than last Friday. It’s even slightly less than it was a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.78 a gallon, two cents less than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.27 a gallon, a penny less than last week.

The price moderation comes just before the Labor Day holiday weekend, which typically ends the summer driving season. But it remains to be seen whether there will be a big jump in the number of Americans taking end-of-the-summer road trips.

GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan says gasoline demand has essentially remained flat throughout the month of August. Demand was up just 0.01% from last Wednesday to this Wednesday.

“That might be the smallest WoW (week over week) change I've ever seen in our data,” DeHaan posted on Twitter.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) puts demand at less than 10 million barrels a day. That’s about 6% below the same week in 2019, and it helped increase gasoline supplies to more than 228 million barrels.

“Cheaper crude, softening demand and growing stock levels equal the right combination for cheaper prices at the pump, which many Americans would likely welcome after such an expensive summer,” said AAA Spokeswoman Jeanette McGee.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.08)

• Nevada ($4.04)

• Washington ($3.89) 

• Utah ($3.83)

• Idaho ($3.80)

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Alaska ($3.71) 

• Colorado ($3.62)  

• Wyoming ($3.57)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.77)

• Louisiana ($2.80)

• Texas ($2.79) 

• Alabama ($2.81)

• Missouri ($2.83)

• Arkansas ($2.84)

• Tennessee ($2.84)

• South Carolina ($2.84)

• Oklahoma ($2.85)

• Kentucky ($2.82)

There’s good news and bad news for drivers. Gas prices haven’t gone up over the last month, but they remain at the highest level since 2014.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.17 a gallon, a penny less than last Friday but the same as a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is also down a penny from last week, at $3.80 a gallon. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.29 a gallon, the same as last week.

Demand has fluctuated in recent weeks, a big factor providing stability to prices at the pump. GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reports U.S. gasoline demand was 0.3% lower on Wednesday than the prior Wednesday and 0.6% lower than the average of the last four Wednesdays. 

“Week to date, gasoline demand is at its lowest since the week of July 11,” DeHaan posted on Twitter.

AAA predicts gas prices will continue to fluctuate in the run-up to the Labor Day weekend, which normally marks the end of the summer driving season. That could put downward pressure on prices as fall arrives.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.40)

• Hawaii ($4.09)

• Nevada ($4.06)

• Washington ($3.91) 

• Utah ($3.85)

• Idaho ($3.81)

• Oregon ($3.80) 

• Alaska ($3.71) 

• Colorado ($3.63)  

• Wyoming ($3.59)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.79)

• Louisiana ($2.83)

• Texas ($2.83) 

• Alabama ($2.84)

• Missouri ($2.86)

• Arkansas ($2.87)

• Tennessee ($2.87)

• South Carolina ($2.88)

• Oklahoma ($2.89)

• Kentucky ($2.90)

President Biden, who is concerned about the high cost of gasoline, asked OPEC this week to produce more oil. The White House was reacting to the current cost of gas, but at least prices didn’t go any higher this week.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.18 a gallon, the highest in seven years but about the same as last week. Compared to last year, the average price is a dollar a gallon higher. The average price of premium gas is $3.81 a gallon, matching last week’s average. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.29 a gallon, the same as last Friday.

The spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant has taken place at the same time that gas prices have leveled off, and the two may be related. The International Energy Agency this week cited the worsening of the pandemic this week as it downgraded its worldwide oil demand outlook.

Lower demand for oil could bring down its price and eventually affect gasoline prices, but not unless consumer demand for gas also declines with the spread of the virus. So far, there’s little evidence of that.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported on Thursday that Sunday through Wednesday gas demand this week was the highest so far this year.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.09)

• Nevada ($4.05)

• Washington ($3.88) 

• Utah ($3.86)

• Idaho ($3.81)

• Oregon ($3.77) 

• Alaska ($3.68) 

• Colorado ($3.64)  

• Wyoming ($3.58)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.79)

• Louisiana ($2.83)

• Texas ($2.85) 

• Alabama ($2.85)

• Missouri ($2.87)

• Arkansas ($2.88)

• Tennessee ($2.88)

• South Carolina ($2.89)

• Oklahoma ($2.89)

• North Carolina ($2.93)

Motorists just about everywhere found rising gasoline prices this week, though moderating demand and small declines in oil prices may keep price hikes in check over the rest of the summer.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.19 a gallon, three cents higher than last Friday and the highest since 2014. The price has risen nearly 20 cents a gallon since May.

The average price of premium gas is $3.81 a gallon, three cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.29 a gallon, two cents higher than a week ago.

At midweek, GasBuddy reported U.S. gasoline demand fell 1.7% from the week before and was 1.1% lower than the average of the last four Wednesdays. 

Most states saw only minor changes in gas prices over the last seven days with the biggest swings tending to occur in Western states. Nevada, whose statewide average has risen 26 cents a gallon over the last month, reported the average price rose another 4 cents in the last week.

Colorado reported an even larger one-week price increase of seven cents a gallon. Its price is up 17 cents over the last month. Wyoming’s average price rose by four cents a gallon.

In a report this week, AAA warned motorists not to overly rely on in-dash fuel economy displays. The study found that a vehicle’s “miles to empty” estimates vary significantly and drivers could be taking an unnecessary risk if they over-rely on these displays. 

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.09)

• Nevada ($4.03)     

• Utah ($3.87)

• Washington ($3.87) 

• Idaho ($3.80)       

• Oregon ($3.75) 

• Alaska ($3.65) 

• Colorado ($3.62)  

• Wyoming ($3.56)   

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.79)

• Louisiana ($2.82)

• Texas ($2.84) 

• Alabama ($2.85)

• Missouri ($2.87)

• Arkansas ($2.88)

• South Carolina ($2.89)

•  Tennessee ($2.89)

• Oklahoma ($2.90)

• North Carolina ($2.94)

Gasoline prices were relatively stable this week but a sharp uptick in demand could send prices higher again.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.16 a gallon, about the same as last Friday. It’s only six cents higher than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $3.78, about a penny more than last week’s price. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.27 a gallon, the same as a week ago.

Despite the steady national averages, some individual states saw prices move higher. The statewide average is up seven cents a gallon in Nevada and Idaho and is six cents higher in Wyoming. In Nevada, the average gas price has increased by 25 cents a gallon over the last four weeks.

A number of factors, including oil prices and consumer demand make it hard to predict where prices go from here.

“For pump prices to push less expensive, OPEC will need to follow through with their production increases, crude will need to sell consistently at lower prices and the market will need to adjust to the potential resurgence of COVID-19 cases,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “If these factors prove true consistently, pump prices could be less expensive in August, though the national average could still be at or above the $3 per gallon mark.”

Demand for gasoline, which is a major effect on supplies, has fluctuated in recent weeks. GasBuddy reports demand is down over the last few days but remains high.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.34)

• Hawaii ($4.08)

• Nevada ($3.98)     

• Utah ($3.88)

• Washington ($3.84) 

• Idaho ($3.77)       

• Oregon ($3.71) 

• Alaska ($3.64) 

• Colorado ($3.55) 

• Wyoming ($3.52)   

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.78)

• Louisiana ($2.81)

• Texas ($2.83) 

• Alabama ($2.83)

• Missouri ($2.85)

• Arkansas ($2.86)

• Oklahoma ($2.88) 

• South Carolina ($2.89)

• Tennessee ($2.89)

• North Carolina ($2.91)

Gasoline prices are following crude oil prices higher, but a buildup in supplies may keep future price hikes in check, at least for the time being.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.15 a gallon, about the same as last Friday. The price has climbed 12 cents a gallon since Memorial Day weekend.

The average price of premium gas is $3.77 a gallon, also the same as a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.27 a gallon, with no change from last week’s price.

At mid-week, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported U.S. crude oil stockpiles increased last week by 2.1 million barrels, resulting in a drop in the price of crude. After oil-producing nations agreed last weekend to increase oil production, industry analysts say the outlook is for more oil at lower prices.

Despite the increase in oil stocks, the EIA also reports supplies of gasoline declined by 100,000 barrels for the week leading up to July 16. Gasoline production also declined, which could put upward pressure on prices at the pump, especially if demand continues its current pace.

On Twitter, GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reported that from Sunday to Wednesday of this week gasoline demand was the highest of any period so far in 2021.

Despite stable prices nationwide, several Western states continued to see wide price swings. According to AAA, the statewide average price of regular gas gained nine cents a gallon in Nevada, eight cents in Utah, seven cents in Idaho, and four cents in Wyoming.

The average price fell five cents a gallon during the week in Oklahoma.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.32)

• Hawaii ($4.09)

• Nevada ($3.91)   

• Utah ($3.85)

• Washington ($3.83) 

• Idaho ($3.70)   

• Oregon ($3.69) 

• Alaska ($3.64) 

• Colorado ($3.53) 

• Wyoming ($3.46)   

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.78)

• Louisiana ($2.81)

• Texas ($2.82) 

• Alabama ($2.83)

• Missouri ($2.83)

• Arkansas ($2.85)

• Oklahoma ($2.86) 

• South Carolina ($2.87)

• Tennessee ($2.87)

• North Carolina ($2.89)

While Americans used a lot of gas over the July 4th holiday weekend, gasoline demand has fallen over the last few days, and prices have stayed roughly the same.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.16 a gallon, two cents more than last Friday. Some states saw price increases while a few states enjoyed slightly lower prices at the pump. The price of premium gas is also two cents higher at $3.77 a gallon. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.27 a gallon, almost the same as last week.

“It feels like we may go a touch higher over the next few days, but without major unforeseeable events, I think we're in the 8th or 9th inning of the rise in #gasprices,” GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan wrote in a Twitter post.

The latest news on oil prices appears to be good for motorists. After initially failing to reach a deal, oil-producing companies have now agreed on production guidelines that will likely increase oil supplies and bring down prices. But for a while, at least, the pain may continue.

“Motorists are paying, on average, nearly a dollar more a gallon than last summer to fill up and close to 40 cents more than in 2019,” said Jeanette McGee, a AAA spokesperson.

Western states continue to see the sharpest price increases. The statewide average has risen 10 cents a gallon this week in Utah, nine cents a gallon in Idaho, seven cents a gallon in Wyoming, and five cents a gallon in Nevada. 

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.31)

• Hawaii ($4.06)

• Washington ($3.83) 

• Nevada ($3.83) 

• Utah ($3.77) 

• Oregon ($3.69) 

• Alaska ($3.63) 

• Idaho ($3.63)  

• Colorado ($3.50) 

• Wyoming ($3.42) 

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found that these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.78)

• Louisiana ($2.81)

• Texas ($2.83) 

• Alabama ($2.83)

• Missouri ($2.85)

• Arkansas ($2.85)

• South Carolina ($2.87)

• Oklahoma ($2.88) 

• Tennessee ($2.88)

• North Carolina ($2.90)

Motorists enjoying their new freedom from the coronavirus (COVID-19) are hitting the road in record numbers, increasing fuel demand and pushing up prices.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.14 a gallon, the highest since 2018. It’s two cents higher than last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $3.76 a gallon, also two cents higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.25 a gallon, a penny higher than last week.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports a big increase in gasoline demand in the last week, so it may be surprising that prices haven’t risen faster than they have. But while the national average is rising slowly, it’s surging higher in many Western states.

In the last week, the statewide average gained 11 cents a gallon in Utah. It rose 10 cents in Alaska and Idaho, six cents in Washington, five cents in Oregon, and four cents in Oklahoma.

“Robust gasoline demand and more expensive crude oil prices are pushing gas prices higher,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “We had hoped that global crude production increases would bring some relief at the pump this month, but weekend OPEC negotiations fell through with no agreement reached. As a result, crude prices are set to surge to a seven-year-high.”

The national average price of gasoline has risen by about 40% since the start of the year. On January 1, the average price of regular gas was $2.25 a gallon.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.31)

• Hawaii ($4.03)

• Washington ($3.82) 

• Nevada ($3.78)

• Oregon ($3.67) 

• Utah ($3.67) 

• Alaska ($3.61) 

• Idaho ($3.54) 

• Colorado ($3.47)

• Illinois ($3.35)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.76)

• Louisiana ($2.78)

• Texas ($2.81) 

• Missouri ($2.82)

• Alabama ($2.82)

• Arkansas ($2.84)

• South Carolina ($2.85)

• Oklahoma ($2.87) 

• Kansas ($2.87)

• Tennessee ($2.89)

Gasoline prices have been steadily rising since the effects of the pandemic began to subside, and industry analysts say prices at the pump are poised to move even higher in the days ahead.

The catalyst for the move is the meeting of oil-producing nations this week -- a group known as OPEC Plus. The members met to agree on a plan to provide the world with more oil. Since they couldn’t agree, the meeting ended with no action and no plans for a future meeting.

OPEC Plus cut oil production last year as the coronavirus (COVID-19) shut down economies around the world, leading to a drop in gasoline demand. At one point in May 2020, the price of oil was a negative number as producers paid their customers to take the oil off their hands.

Price increases may only be beginning

Now that the U.S. economy is reopening, there is a sharp rise in demand for gasoline. Highways were jammed over the July 4th weekend as Americans packed their bags and hit the road. They didn’t seem to mind paying more for fuel.

But analysts expect consumers will pay even more if OPEC Plus doesn’t quickly shift from “pandemic production” to “growing economy” production. The national average price of gas is rising by about a penny per day, but prices are rising faster in some parts of the country.

“Los Angeles #gasprices are just a penny away from reaching the highest level in nine years.... $4.33/gal is the magic number,” GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan wrote in a Tweet Tuesday.

As a result of the stalemate among oil producers, crude oil prices are at a six-year high. Those prices are rising because of uncertainty about how much oil is going to be available as economies around the world reopen.

In an interview with Fox Business, PRICE Futures Group senior analyst Phil Flynn said the impasse is likely to hit consumers’ pocketbooks. Without an increase in supply, he predicts that prices at the pump could hit $4 a gallon.

"If we don't get the production from OPEC, it could mean prices are going to go sharply higher," he said.

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic fading in the rearview mirror, millions of Americans will hit the road over the Independence Day holiday. In just about every region of the country, they’ll find higher gasoline prices.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.12 a gallon, four cents higher than a week ago. The price is up nearly $1 from a year ago.

The average price of premium gas is $3.74 a gallon, also four cents higher than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.24 a gallon, two cents higher than last week.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says a huge spike in demand is driving the increase.

“According to GasBuddy data, Wednesday U.S. gasoline demand surged 7.53% from last Wednesday, the highest Wednesday since summer 2019,” DeHaan posted on Twitter. “It was 7.48% above the average of the last four Wednesdays.”

Earlier in the week DeHaan reported that supplies were running low at some stations around the country, not because of a shortage of fuel but because of a shortage of truck drivers to deliver it.

Some states in the West have seen large price increases in the last week. In Idaho, the statewide average is up 11 cents a gallon in the last seven days. The price is up 10 cents in Oregon and Utah, and eight cents in Alaska and Utah.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.28)

• Hawaii ($4.02)

• Washington ($3.76)

• Nevada ($3.74)

• Oregon ($3.62) 

• Utah ($3.56)

• Alaska ($3.51) 

• Idaho ($3.44)

• Colorado ($3.43)

• Illinois ($3.37)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.75)

• Louisiana ($2.76)

• Texas ($2.80) 

• Missouri ($2.81)

• Arkansas ($2.81)

• Alabama ($2.81)

• South Carolina ($2.82

• Oklahoma ($2.83)

• Kansas ($2.88)

• North Carolina ($2.89)

We’re well into the summer driving season, and prices at the pump have remained relatively stable. However, they are sharply higher than a year ago in the midst of the pandemic shutdown.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.08 a gallon, just a penny more than last Friday. Prices are only three cents higher than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.70 a gallon, two cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.22 a gallon, only a penny higher than a week ago.

U.S. crude oil prices moved higher this week after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a significant drawdown in U.S. stockpiles. Oil supplies have dwindled over a four-week period, and gasoline supplies followed suit in the latest period, ending a four-week streak of a supply build.

Now that gasoline stockpiles are getting smaller, consumers may see modest increases in prices at the pump as we approach the Independence Day holiday. 

Kentucky saw its statewide average gas price decline by four cents a gallon in the last week. Motorists in Colorado, however, are paying seven cents a gallon more today than they did a week ago.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.25)

• Hawaii ($3.99)

• Nevada ($3.69)

• Washington ($3.67)

• Oregon ($3.52)

• Utah ($3.42)

• Illinois ($3.36)

• Alaska ($3.30)

• Idaho ($3.24)

• Colorado ($3.24)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Louisiana ($2.72)

• Mississippi ($2.72)

• Texas ($2.75)

• Missouri ($2.77)

• South Carolina ($2.77)

• Arkansas ($2.78)

• Oklahoma ($2.79)

• Alabama ($2.79)

• Kansas ($2.84)

• Tennessee ($2.84)

The expected spike in demand after the Memorial Day weekend failed to materialize but even so, gas prices have begun to move higher again.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.07 a gallon, about three cents higher than last Friday. It’s 11 cents higher than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $3.68 a gallon, also up three cents in the last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.20 a gallon, two cents higher than a week ago.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a drop in demand for fuel for the week ending May 28. During the same week, total gasoline stocks increased to nearly 234 million barrels as U.S. refinery utilization jumped to 88.7%, the highest rate since February 2020. 

By keeping its average gas price stable this week Louisiana moved into first place among the states with the cheapest gasoline, displacing Texas, where prices rose 5 cents a gallon over the last seven days.

California remains the most expensive state for fuel with no other state even close. The average price in California moved up another three cents a gallon this week to $4.22. 

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for May, released Thursday, shows gasoline prices declined 0.7% last month but were 56% higher than a year ago.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.22)

• Hawaii ($3.97)

• Nevada ($3.66)

• Washington ($3.61)

• Oregon ($3.46

• Utah ($3.37)

• Alaska ($3.36)

• Illinois ($3.36)

• Idaho ($3.28)

• Pennsylvania ($3.18)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Louisiana ($2.71)

• Mississippi ($2.72)

• Oklahoma ($2.75)

• Texas ($2.75)

• Missouri ($2.76)

• Arkansas ($2.76)

• South Carolina ($2.80)

• Alabama ($2.82)

• Kansas ($2.85)

• Minnesota ($2.85)

If anyone doubts Ford’s commitment to electric vehicles, consider this: According to Automotive News, the automaker has produced more of the electric version of the Mustang this year than the gasoline-powered version.

So far in 2021, Ford has built 27,816 Mustang Mach-E models -- the electric version of its iconic sports car. That compares with 26,089 traditional Mustang models that have rolled off the assembly line so far this year.

Ford didn’t sell all those cars, but the Mach-E version was the best-selling car in Norway last month. In the U.S., however, consumers have purchased three times more gas-powered Mustangs than the Mach-E models.

Last month, Ford took the wraps off its electric pick-up truck, the F-150 Lightning. At that event, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company expects 40% of its models to be electric within nine years. If that turns out to be the case, then consumers may have to rapidly change their attitudes towards electric vehicles. Sales have increased in recent years but are a fraction of total vehicle sales in the U.S.

In a 2012 report, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that consumer demand for these vehicles was lacking when the U.S. government was trying to promote them. 

“If demographic profiles of EV early adopters are accurate, most surveys indicate that the initial market size is quite limited,” the authors wrote.

Same headwinds

Tesla has done a lot to popularize electric vehicles since then, but battery range and sticker price have remained headwinds. A study published in April in Nature Energy looked into the reason that many California buyers have gone back to gasoline-powered transportation. In short, the researchers found that a number of electric vehicle owners consider the cars to be a hassle.

“We show that discontinuance is related to dissatisfaction with the convenience of charging, having other vehicles in the household that are less efficient, not having level 2 (240-volt) charging at home, having fewer household vehicles, and not being male,” the authors of that study wrote.

The volts supplied by the outlet charging the vehicle appear to be a key factor. Standard home outlets -- the kind you might have in your garage -- supply only 120 volts of electricity. It could take days to fully charge an electric vehicle battery.

In fact, the study found many of consumers’ concerns about the technology were the same as the EPA identified nine years ago: price differential, range, recharging infrastructure, and speed of the recharge. 

Gas prices remained stable this week despite a big increase in demand over the Memorial Day weekend, as an estimated 37 million Americans hit the road.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.04 a gallon, about the same as it was last Friday. It’s 14 cents higher than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.65 a gallon, also the same as last week. The average price of diesel fuel is a penny higher than last week, at $3.18 a gallon.

Prices have remained stable in the face of rising oil prices and increased demand. AAA says the next week or two could indicate whether that stability is lasting.

“Demand has steadily jumped week-over-week since the end of April, pushing supply down to typical summer levels. The increasing demand and decreasing supply combined with more expensive crude oil prices means gas prices are likely to see fluctuation throughout June,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “We could see some decreases early in the month and increases mid-month as school years end and summer travel increases.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.20)

• Hawaii ($3.94)

• Nevada ($3.64)

• Washington ($3.58)

• Oregon ($3.43)

• Utah ($3.38)

• Alaska ($3.34)

• Illinois ($3.29)

• Idaho ($3.26)

• Pennsylvania ($3.16)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.70)

• Mississippi ($2.71)

• Louisiana ($2.71)

• Missouri ($2.73)

• Oklahoma ($2.74)

• Arkansas ($2.76)

• Alabama ($2.81)

• South Carolina ($2.81)

• Kansas ($2.82)

• Minnesota ($2.84)

The price of gasoline has stayed the same over the last couple of days as the Colonial Pipeline has resumed more normal operations, supplying fuel to the Southeast and mid-Atlantic states.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.04 a gallon, the same price it’s been the last few days and only a penny more than last Friday. The average price of premium gas is $3.64, about two cents a gallon higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.17 a gallon, one cent more than last week.

In addition to more fuel flowing through the Colonial Pipeline, oil refineries are turning out more fuel. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that refinery utilization has increased to 86.3% in the last week. However, total domestic supply fell by 2 million barrels to 234.2 million barrels.

“As demand and supply move in sync, the national average is expected to continue stabilizing through the weekend,” AAA said in its latest update. “However, we could see some fluctuation next week with the lead up to Memorial Day weekend, during which AAA forecasts 34 million Americans to take road trips.”

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, reported that Wednesday’s gasoline demand was down more than 15% from the previous Wednesday, which could serve to keep fuel prices stable for a while longer.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.15)

• Hawaii ($3.89)

• Nevada ($3.61)

• Washington ($3.55)

• Oregon ($3.40)

• Utah ($3.36)

• Alaska ($3.29)

• Illinois ($3.24)

• Idaho ($3.23)

• Pennsylvania ($3.16)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.72)

• Louisiana ($2.73)

• Missouri ($2.75)

• Texas ($2.75)

• Arkansas ($2.76)

• Oklahoma ($2.78)

• North Dakota ($2.84)

• Kansas ($2.84)

• Minnesota ($2.84)

• Alabama ($2.85)

Even though the Colonial Pipeline has started moving again after being shut down for six days by a cyberattack, gasoline prices are still rising. However, they’re not climbing as quickly as before.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular is $3.04 a gallon, 9 cents higher than last Friday but only a penny more than Thursday. The average price of premium gas is $3.62, up eight cents a gallon in the last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.16 a gallon, six cents more than a week ago.

Fuel prices in the Colonial Pipeline service area -- mostly the Southeast and mid-Atlantic states -- have stabilized after spiking in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Many gas stations in those states ran out of gas when panicked consumers began topping off their tanks.

States outside Colonial’s service area have seen only modest price increases this week. None have faced fuel shortages.

“The restart of the pipeline is very positive news for motorists,” said Jeanette McGee, a AAA spokesperson. “While impact won’t be seen immediately and motorists in affected areas can expect to see a few more days of limited fuel supply, relief is coming. Station pumps will be full of fuel in several days. This is an especially good update ahead of the Memorial Day holiday.”

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, predicts that supplies in affected areas will be back to normal by the Memorial Day weekend in two weeks. He reported that North Carolina was the hardest-hit state as of mid-day Thursday, with nearly 70% of its stations completely out of fuel. Only 1% of New Jersey stations were without gas.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($4.12)

• Hawaii ($3.85)

• Nevada ($3.56)

• Washington ($3.52)

• Oregon ($3.36)

• Utah ($3.34)

• Alaska ($3.28)

• Illinois ($3.25)

• Idaho ($3.21)

• Arizona ($3.14)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Louisiana ($2.70)

• Mississippi ($2.71)

• Texas ($2.74)

• Arkansas ($2.75)

• Missouri ($2.76)

• Oklahoma ($2.78)

• Minnesota ($2.81)

• Alabama ($2.82)

• North Dakota ($2.82)

• South Carolina ($2.85)

In what should be good news for motorists in the Southeast and along the mid-Atlantic coast, the main pipeline carrying fuel from Texas to New York, shutdown since Friday by a cyberattack, is back in operation.

The Colonial Pipeline Company initiated the restart of pipeline operations at approximately 5 p.m. ET Wednesday -- a day that saw more than a thousand gas stations in the region run out of fuel. While relief is on the way, it won’t occur overnight.

“Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal,” the company said in a statement. “Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during the start-up period.”

While the pipeline operation ramps up, Colonial said it would move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.

“As we initiate our return to service, our primary focus remains safety. As part of this startup process, Colonial will conduct a comprehensive series of pipeline safety assessments in compliance with all Federal pipeline safety requirements,” the company said.

Panic buying and hoarding

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, has been active on Twitter in the last few days keeping us updated on where the shortages are as they spread mostly across Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. He has also urged consumers to refrain from panic buying and hoarding.

“Please be a decent human and think about others around you,” he wrote. “If you don't need it, please wait.”

Stations in the Colonial Pipeline service area that still have fuel have attracted long lines, with some motorists seen fueling their cars and also filling containers. Motorists outside the service area have plenty of fuel and mostly stable prices and DeHaan said they have no reason to hoard gasoline.

Colonial’s pipeline supplies about 45% of the East Coast’s fuel and has had issues in the past four years that have caused temporary shutdowns. The Biden administration seized on last Friday’s ransomware attack by the hacker group Darkside as a reason for the government to invest in improving the nation’s vital infrastructure.