Oregon and other West Coast states are seeing some of the biggest weekly decreases in the nation.
Gasoline supplies in the area are returning to normal as regional refinery issues are resolved. In addition, falling crude oil prices and demand for gas in the U.S. are also helping to push pump prices lower. For the week, the national average for regular loses five cents to $3.87 a gallon. The Oregon average plummets 22 cents to $5.30. This is the second-largest weekly drop for a state in the nation.
The Oregon average came within a penny of reaching a new record high this month when it got to $5.54 a gallon. It has decreased 24 cents since then. Both the national and Oregon averages hit record highs in mid-June, then declined for 14 consecutive weeks before rising again for the last three weeks. The national average reached its record high of $5.016 on June 14 while the Oregon average reached its record high of $5.548 on June 15.
“Pump prices on the West Coast soared last month after several California refineries underwent planned or unplanned maintenance creating a huge drop in supplies in this region. The situation is getting back to normal and pump prices in this region should continue to decline, barring unforeseen events,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Oregon is one of 32 states with lower prices now than a week ago. California (-29 cents) has the largest weekly drop in the nation. Oregon (-22 cents) has the second-largest week-over-week decline. Florida (+6 cents) has the largest weekly increase.
California ($6.00) has the most expensive gas in the country for the sixth week in a row and is the only state with an average at or above $6 a gallon. Six states, including Oregon, have averages at or above $5 a gallon. This week 13 states have averages at or above $4, and 37 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Georgia ($3.25) and Texas ($3.29). For the 93rd week in a row, no state has an average below $2 a gallon.
The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $2.75 which is stark.
Oregon is one of 40 states with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is 19 cents more and the Oregon average is 65 cents more than a month ago. Oregon has the second-largest monthly increase in the nation.
