Just in time for the summer travel season, gas prices are on the rise again, according to AAA. The national average for a gallon of regular gas climbed to $3.192, up 4 cents from last week, as crude oil prices increase and demand picks up.
AAA noted that although this seasonal spike typically begins earlier in the spring, this year’s lower crude prices delayed the trend. However, gas prices are now following a more traditional seasonal pattern.
Despite the recent bump, prices remain about 40 cents lower than this time last year, when drivers were paying an average of $3.60 per gallon. That’s welcome news for the 39.4 million Americans expected to hit the road over Memorial Day weekend, marking a potential record for holiday travel.
Here’s how gas prices compare:
- Today’s National Average: $3.192
- One Week Ago: $3.152
- One Month Ago: $3.172
- One Year Ago: $3.60
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased from 8.71 million b/d last week to 8.79. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 225.7 million barrels to 224.7. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.
At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell 52 cents to settle at $63.15 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 4 million barrels from the previous week. At 441.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.
EV Charging
The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 36 cents.
State Stats
Gas
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.92), Hawaii ($4.49), Washington ($4.33), Nevada ($3.96), Oregon ($3.95), Alaska ($3.60), Illinois ($3.39), Arizona ($3.38), Utah ($3.30), and Idaho ($3.29).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.66), Tennessee ($2.71), Louisiana ($2.73), Alabama ($2.76), Texas ($2.80), South Carolina ($2.81), Arkansas ($2.81), Oklahoma ($2.82), Kansas ($2.85), and Missouri ($2.86).
Electric
The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (50 cents), Tennessee (48 cents), Alaska (47 cents), Montana (45 cents), Louisiana (44 cents), Hawaii (43 cents), South Carolina (43 cents), Idaho (41 cents), Arkansas (41 cents), and Kentucky (40 cents).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (23 cents), Delaware (24 cents), Missouri (25 cents), Nebraska (27 cents), Maryland (27 cents), Iowa (29 cents), Utah (29 cents), Texas (30 cents), Vermont (31 cents), and Washington (31 cents).
Drivers can find current gas and electric charging prices along their route using the AAA TripTik Travel planner.
