The national average for a gallon of gas rose 11 cents since last week to $3.52. While demand for domestic gas has been lackluster, rising oil prices helped push pump prices higher. The Midwest may see a bit of a price reprieve, as the large BP Whiting refinery in Indiana is back up and running after being down since February 1.
“Gas prices are a lot like seasonal temperatures. They start to rise with the arrival of spring, said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “And the national average for gas is now higher than a year ago, which we have not seen since late December.”
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand decreased slightly from 9.04 to 8.81 million b/d last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks dropped by 3.3 million bbl to 230.8 million bbl. Lower demand would typically contribute to pushing pump prices lower or slowing increases, but rising oil prices have pushed them higher instead.
Today’s national average of $3.52 is 25 cents more than a month ago and nine cents more than a year ago.
Since last Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest increases in their averages: Illinois (+21 cents), Indiana (+21 cents), Ohio (+18 cents), Maryland (+17 cents), Minnesota (+16 cents), Kentucky (+16 cents), Alaska (+16 cents), Wisconsin (+16 cents), Nebraska (+16 cents) and Oregon (+16 cents).
$4.55 a gallon today at Costco in La Mesa, Ca. (east San Diego county)
Yikes! Ours rose here in east Tennessee too, Bill, and are now a bit over $3/gallon. Safe travels (soon)! 🙂
In Eastern Canada, our prices jumped the equivalent of 24 cents a gallon at Costco overnight, even higher at the company owned stations. Big oil sure knows when to hit, just before folks start traveling for the Easter break. Then it will fall off until just before the long weekend in May, when it will stay up until summer vacations are done.
Thank you, RV Travel! Glad that I bought gasoline Wednesday! It was a bit more than $3/gallon this afternoon. 🤔😯🙁 Safe travels! 🙂
Regular unleaded in the Chicagoland area is on average $3.99. Diesel at most stations in now cheaper.
Drill Baby Drill!!!
The US is now the worlds leading producer of crude oil and natural gas. It now is producing more oil than anytime in its history and the world has access to more oil than anytime in world history. There is no shortage of crude oil at this time. The price of petrochemical products is artificially manipulated to keep profits high by the corporations running the show. They can make a lot more money selling a gallon of gas at $5 than selling 5 gallons at $1.
Is anyone really shocked? No one blaming corporate greed today?
$3.999 at Costco near Seattle yesterday Friday.