Gas prices continue to fall, giving consumers an early holiday gift of savings at the pumps. Lower crude oil prices and lackluster demand for gas are the driving factors. But news of possible production cuts by OPEC+ this week could send crude oil prices higher and potentially slow or end the declines in fuel prices.
For the week, the national average for regular slips five cents to $3.25 a gallon. The Oregon average falls seven cents to $4.04.
“The Oregon average is poised to dip below $4 a gallon in the coming days. A growing number of Oregon markets and counties already have averages below $4 a gallon, and that number should continue to grow in the next couple of weeks,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
The national average for regular has been steadily falling since reaching its year-to-date high of $3.88 on September 18. The Oregon average has been moving lower since reaching its year-to-date high of $4.77 on August 30.
Many Oregon markets now have averages below $4 a gallon including:
- Albany $3.74
- Astoria $3.99
- Bend $3.96
- Central Point $3.93
- Corvallis $3.71
- Eugene/Springfield $3.80
- Florence $3.81
- Hermiston $3.84
- Hood River $3.82
- Keizer $3.77
- Klamath Falls $3.96
- Lincoln City $3.65
- Madras $3.67
- McMinnville $3.75
- Newport $3.34
- Pendleton $3.76
- Redmond $3.82
- Roseburg $3.77
- Salem $3.83
Seventeen Oregon counties have averages below $4 a gallon:
- Benton $3.70
- Deschutes $3.94
- Douglas $3.86
- Gilliam $3.90
- Hood River $3.83
- Jefferson $3.75
- Lane $3.80
- Lincoln $3.56
- Linn $3.73
- Malheur $3.88
- Marion $3.80
- Morrow $3.71
- Polk $3.84
- Umatilla $3.77
- Union $3.98
- Wasco $3.90
- Yamhill $3.94
Oregon is one of 48 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Utah (-16 cents has the biggest weekly drop. Hawaii (-3/10ths of a cent) has the smallest weekly decline. Florida (+5 cents) and North Carolina (+2/10ths of a cent) are the only states with week-over-week increases.
California ($4.88) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the 18th week in a row. Hawaii ($4.73) is second, Washington ($4.38) is third, Nevada ($4.19) is fourth, and Oregon ($4.04) is fifth. These are the five states with averages at or above $4, down from six states a week ago. This week 30 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. Fifteen states have averages in the $2 range this week.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Texas ($2.71) and Mississippi ($2.76). 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 $2.17 this week, compared to $2.19 a week ago.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have lower prices now than a month ago. The national average is 26 cents less and the Oregon average is 32 cents less than a month ago. Utah (-57 cents) has the largest monthly drop. Hawaii (-4 cents) has the smallest.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is 30 cents less and the Oregon average is 43 cents less than a year ago. Utah (-73 cents) has the largest yearly decrease. Washington (-14 cents has the smallest yearly decline.
