The 2015 summer driving season ends with the national average at its lowest point for the Labor Day holiday in more than a decade with drivers paying about a dollar a gallon less than a year ago.
While prices are dropping in Oregon, the average price of a gallon of gas in the Beaver State is the eighth highest in the nation.
For the week, the national average dropped seven cents to $2.39, while Oregon’s average also fell seven cents to $2.76. The average price in Hermiston is between $2.77 and $2.79.
“AAA expects gas prices will continue to slide as driving demand experiences a seasonal decrease heading into the fall, provided the price of crude remains relatively low and refineries are able to conduct routine maintenance without issues, ” said AAA Oregon/Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds.
Drivers have enjoyed lower pump prices throughout this summer, with an average savings of 89 cents per gallon nationwide compared to last year’s summer driving season, which typically runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. These lower prices have encouraged drivers to hit the road in record numbers and meant some of highest demand numbers over the first eight months of 2015. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, refineries reported higher than normal utilization rates and more maintenance is scheduled for this year compared to previous years. This could slow the rate of anticipated declines in gas prices, but is not expected to send prices higher.
The end of the summer driving season also signals the start of the seasonal switchover on September 16 to winter-blend gasoline in many parts of the country. The Environmental Protection Agency requires certain areas to use a specified blend of gasoline, commonly referred to as summer-blend gasoline, in order to address air quality issues during the summer months. This more expensive summer-blend gasoline is not required during the winter months and retail prices tend to fall following the completion of this seasonal switchover.
The highest retail averages in the nation continue to be found west of the Rockies with drivers in Alaska paying the most. Regional neighbors California, Nevada, Hawaii and Washington round out the top five most expensive markets for gasoline. Oregon is eighth most expensive, down from seventh last week. The cheapest gas in the nation is $1.97 in South Carolina, where the average slipped below $2 per gallon over the weekend.
