The recent surge in gas prices caused by frigid weather and robust holiday road travel may be ending. While the national average price rose daily starting on Christmas Eve, when it was $3.09, the steam may have run out as pump prices flattened and then fell by a penny over the weekend. The national average for a gallon of gas rose seven cents since last week to $3.28.
“As we head toward February, pump prices will likely dip, barring any jolt in the global oil market,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson. “But it is likely that the national average prices we saw heading in to Christmas may have been the lows for this winter.”
According to data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand dropped from 9.33 million to 7.51 million b/d last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks fell by 300,000 bbl to 222.7 million bbl. Lower gasoline demand has contributed to limiting increases in pump prices.
Today’s national average of $3.28 is three cents less than a month ago and two cents less than a year ago. Virginia’s average today ($3.18) is up eight cents from a week ago, up a penny from a month ago, and up four cents from a year ago.
The nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases: Ohio (+22 cents), Colorado (+17 cents), Wyoming (+16 cents), Indiana (+16 cents), Iowa (+15 cents), North Carolina (+13 cents), Minnesota (+13 cents), Illinois (+12 cents), Michigan (+12 cents) and Arkansas (+12 cents).
The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: Hawaii ($5.00), California ($4.42), Nevada ($3.96), Washington ($3.92), Alaska ($3.72), Oregon ($3.70), Pennsylvania ($3.65), Washington, D.C. ($3.47), New York ($3.45) and Arizona ($3.42).
