For the first time in two months, the national average for regular gas has crept higher while the Oregon average continues to move lower.
Higher crude oil prices are helping to fuel gas price increases in a third of all states, but pump prices should decrease again in the near future. For the week, the national average for regular adds a penny to $3.21 a gallon.
The Oregon average falls five cents to $3.70 a gallon.
“Refinery issues in California are easing, which is helping to put downward pressure on pump prices on the West Coast. Several refineries in California had issues and/or have undergone refinery maintenance in the past few weeks, which led to tight supplies,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
This week, only one Oregon county still has an average above $4 a gallon: Wallowa ($4.20).
The Oregon average began 2024 at $3.79 a gallon compared to $3.70 today. Its lowest price so far this year is $3.58 on February 14 and the highest is nearly $4.51 on May 1. The national average started the year at $3.11 and is at $3.21 today. Its lowest price so far this year is just under $3.07 on January 15 and the highest is just under $3.68 on April 19.
Gas prices typically drop in the fall, due to the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce. The switch starts in September. Many areas, including Oregon, can sell winter-blend fuel starting September 15. However, Northern and Southern California require summer-blend fuel through October 31.
Oregon is one of 33 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Ohio (+18 cents) has the biggest week-over-week jump in the nation. Maine (-7 cents) has the largest weekly decrease. The average in Georgia is flat.
California ($4.73) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the third week in a row. Hawaii ($4.61) is second, and Washington ($4.10) is third. These are the three states with averages at or above $4 a gallon, down from four states a week ago. This week 32 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. There are 15 states with an average in the $2 range this week.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Mississippi ($2.72) and Texas ($2.78). 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 $2.02 this week, compared to $2.05 a week ago.
Oregon is one of 47 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a month ago. The national average is 15 cents less and the Oregon average is 11 cents less than a month ago. Connecticut (-29 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop in the nation. Colorado (+14 cents) has the largest monthly increase in the nation.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is 64 cents less and the Oregon average is 97 cents less than a year ago. This is the fourth-largest year-over-year drop in the nation. Arizona (-$1.28) has the largest year-over-year drop.
