WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gas prices remain low as winter weather curbs travel and gasoline demand typically drops during the slow driving season, AAA said Thursday.
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $2.85 as of Jan. 22, AAA said — about a half-cent higher than a week earlier and roughly flat compared with a month ago. The average remained well below the price a year earlier, when the national average was $3.13, AAA said.
AAA said gasoline demand is at its lowest point of the year, helping keep crude oil prices in the high $50 to low $60 range. Demand usually begins increasing in late February and early March as milder weather arrives and spring travel picks up, including trips for Spring Break, AAA said.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed gasoline demand fell last week from 8.30 million barrels per day to 7.83 million, while total domestic gasoline supply rose from 251 million barrels to 257 million barrels. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 8.8 million barrels per day, AAA said, citing EIA data.
In oil markets, West Texas Intermediate crude settled Wednesday at $60.62 a barrel, up 26 cents, AAA said. EIA data showed crude oil inventories increased by 3.6 million barrels from the previous week to 426.0 million barrels, about 2% below the five-year average for this time of year, AAA said.
AAA also reported the national average price at public electric-vehicle charging stations held at 38 cents per kilowatt hour.
Among states, AAA listed Hawaii ($4.41) and California ($4.20) as the most expensive gasoline markets, while Oklahoma ($2.38) and Arkansas ($2.42) were among the least expensive.
For public EV charging, AAA listed West Virginia (51 cents per kilowatt hour) as the most expensive and Wyoming and Kansas (25 cents) among the least expensive.
Drivers can find gas and charging prices along their route using AAA’s TripTik Travel planner, the organization said.
