Pump prices continue to inch up in most states but Oregon drivers are seeing a small decline. Gas prices often start to rise this time of year as winter eases and demand for gas creeps higher.
For the week, the national average for regular adds two cents to $3.15 a gallon. The Oregon average dips two cents to $3.60.
The national and Oregon averages are at their lowest prices since July 2021. All counties in Oregon except Curry ($4.24) have averages below $4 a gallon. Gas prices have been fairly stable since the start of the year. The national average has ranged between a low of $3.07 and a high of $3.15. The Oregon average has ranged between $3.60 and $3.79 so far in 2024.
“We’ll see more movement in the coming weeks because we’re entering the time of year when pump prices begin their seasonal climb. But unless a major development shocks the global oil market, gas prices will likely inch up for now instead of rocketing higher,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Gas prices normally rise in the first and second quarters of the year. The factors include refinery maintenance season, the normal seasonal growth in demand, and the switch from winter-blend fuel to summer-blend, which is more expensive to produce. Summer-blend gas helps reduce emissions from gasoline during the warm summer months. More info on summer- and winter-blend gasoline can be found at the EPA website.
Oregon is one of 13 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Utah (+14 cents) has the largest week-over-week gain and is the only state where prices changed by a dime or more week-over-week. New Mexico (-7 cents) has the biggest weekly drop.
Hawaii ($4.67) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the fourth week in a row. California ($4.58) is second. These are the only two states with averages at or above $4, same as a week ago. This week 22 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3 range. Twenty-six states have averages in the $2 range this week.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Oklahoma ($2.68) and Wyoming ($2.68) and. No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since January 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold.
The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $2.00 this week, compared to $2.02 a week ago.
Oregon is one of 20 states with lower prices now than a month ago. The national average is six cents more and the Oregon average is 15 cents less than a month ago. This is the third-largest monthly drop in the nation. Ohio (+34 cents) has the largest monthly increase. Idaho (-23 cents) has the largest month-over-month decrease.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is 33 cents less and the Oregon average is 18 cents less than a year ago. Colorado (-$1.18) has the largest yearly decrease.
