Retail gas prices are trending higher in most states this week due to stronger demand and declining supplies.
On the West Coast, however, prices are ticking down in every state as supplies in this region grew. For the week, the national average adds two cents to $2.86 a gallon. The Oregon average loses a penny to $3.28. The average price in Hermiston is around $3.13 to $3.15 per gallon.
Crude oil and gasoline inventories have tightened in the U.S. On the week, pump prices jumped as much as 11 cents in some states, while other states saw decreases of up to two cents.
“If crude and gas inventories continue to tighten, drivers can expect pump prices to move higher and remain volatile,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Oregon is one of 14 states where prices are lower now than a week ago. The largest decreases are in Delaware (-2 cents) and Utah (-2 cents). 36 states report weekly increases with the largest jumps in Michigan (+11 cents) and Ohio (+8 cents). The average in Maryland is flat. This week 12 states have averages at or above $3 a gallon, same as a week ago.
Oregon is one of 24 states where prices are lower than one month ago. The national average is one cent more and the Oregon average is three cents less than a month ago. Oregon has the 10th-largest monthly decrease in the country. New Mexico (-13 cents) has the largest monthly decrease, while Delaware (+8 cents) has the largest monthly increase.
The West Coast continues to have the most expensive gas prices in the nation. Hawaii tops the list for the eighth week in a row with California, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Nevada rounding out the top six. Oregon is fifth for the sixth consecutive week. Prices in all West Coast states are down this week, except Alaska where the average is up half a cent.
