Retail gas prices are likely to jump this month as we see spikes in demand, especially approaching Memorial Day. This week, several West Coast states are already seeing pump prices rise faster than other parts of the country.
For the week, the national average for regular climbs three cents to $2.91 a gallon. The Oregon average jumps six cents to $3.31.
Gas prices and supply and demand for gas are similar to May 2019. The national average ended May 2019 at $2.83 a gallon and the Oregon average ended May 2019 at $3.42.
“Compared to May 2019, U.S. gasoline demand is down only 4 percent and gas prices are on average within about a dime of what we were paying two years ago,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Oregon is one of 48 states and Washington D.C. where prices are higher now than a week ago. Oregon is one of nine states where prices have climbed a nickel or more in the last week. Indiana (+8 cents) has the largest weekly increase in the nation. Oregon (+6 cents) has the sixth-largest weekly increase in the country. Ohio (-4 cents) and Arizona (-2/10ths of a cent) are the only two states with week-over-week declines.
California ($4.05) and Hawaii ($3.80) continue to have the most expensive gas prices in the country. California is the only state with an average above $4 a gallon, and 11 states and the District of Columbia are above $3, same as a week ago.
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