Gas prices are climbing in locations along the path of totality of next Monday’s total solar eclipse.
Demand for gasoline has already been very robust due to a healthy summer travel season. Add about a million eclipse viewers in Oregon and 500,000 in Idaho and that creates even more demand for fuel. For the week, the national average for regular unleaded remains at $2.35 a gallon. Oregon’s average climbs three cents to $2.72 and Idaho’s average leaps eight cents to $2.66, which is the biggest weekly jump in the nation, according to AAA Oregon/Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds.
“The eclipse on Aug. 21 and the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend will likely lead to some of the highest prices at the pump this year,” Dodds said.
Oregon is one of 29 states where gas prices increased in the last week. The largest weekly increases are in Idaho (+8 cents) and Utah (+7 cents). Delaware has the largest weekly drop (-5 cents).
Oregon is one of 49 states and the District of Columbia to see pump prices rise in the last month. The largest monthly increase is in Florida (+13 cents). Arizona is the only state where prices are flat month-over-month. The national average is 10 cents more and the Oregon average is five cents more than a month ago.
The West Coast continues to have the highest gas prices in the country. Hawaii remains the only state with an average at or above $3. California, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada round out the top seven most expensive states. Oregon is fifth most expensive for the seventh week in a row.
Diesel prices are also moving up. For the week, the national average adds a penny to $2.53 a gallon. Oregon’s average gains two cents to $2.70. A year ago the national average for diesel was $2.29 and the Oregon average was $2.51.
