Pump prices are moving higher this week due to reduced supplies and increased demand. For the week, the national average gains three cents to $2.43 a gallon. The Oregon average adds two and a half cents to $2.77.
The average price of gas in Hermiston remains under $2.50 and continues to be among the lowest in the state.
Since the start of the year, the national average has shot up 17 cents. This is the largest jump during the January/February timeframe since 2015. Pump prices rose steadily in many states last month as a number of refineries underwent planned and unplanned maintenance. In addition, higher crude oil prices put upward pressure on fuel prices. Last year, the national average added only four cents between Jan. 1 and March 5.
Oregon’s gas prices have fallen about 18 cents since the start of the year. On January 1, the Oregon average was nearly $2.95. Last year, the Oregon average added 12 cents between Jan. 1 and March 5.
“We’re at the time of year when pump prices normally move up as refineries prepare for maintenance season ahead of the production of summer-blend fuel,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Oregon is one of 48 states and the District of Columbia where gas prices are higher now than a week ago. Alabama (+10 cents) and Mississippi (+8 cents) have the largest weekly increases. Wyoming and North Carolina are the only two states with weekly decreases and both of those averages are only fractions of a cent lower than a week ago. This week two states, Hawaii and California, have averages at or above $3 a gallon, same as a week ago.
Oregon is one of 44 states and the District of Columbia with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is 17 cents more and the Oregon average is fractions of a cent more than a month ago. Minnesota (+32 cents) has the largest monthly jump. Utah (-11 cents) has the largest month-over-month decrease.
The West Coast continues to have some of the most expensive gas prices in the nation with most of the region’s states landing on the top 10 most expensive list. Hawaii tops the list, followed by California, Washington, Nevada, Alaska and Oregon rounding out the top six. Oregon is sixth most expensive for the ninth week in a row. Arizona ($2.43) is the only state in the region that dropped from the 10 most expensive markets list. Prices in the region have mostly increased on the week, with Oregon (+2.5 cents) seeing the largest jump.
