Pump prices are ticking up in Oregon and other West Coast states due in part to a fuel pipeline leak in California.
The national average continues to move lower, helped by a dip in demand for gas in the U.S. For the week, the national average for regular unleaded slips four cents to $3.41. The Oregon average adds two cents to $3.80.
A leak was discovered last Thursday at a pumping station in Long Beach, California that provides fuel to Las Vegas. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, which operates the pipeline, said the pipeline was shut down but then resumed normal operations over the weekend. The situation generated panic buying by consumers who waited in long lines to fill up their vehicles. The outage put slight upward pressure on prices along the West Coast.
Crude oil is trading around $79 today compared to $77 a week ago. In January, West Texas Intermediate ranged between about $73 and $82 bbl. and was $95 a year ago. Crude reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008.
Oregon is one of eight states with a week-over-week increase. Nevada (+10 cents) has the largest jump, due to the pipeline outage that impacted Las Vegas. Maryland (-14 cents) and Delaware (-14 cents) have the largest weekly drops.
Hawaii ($4.89) is the state with the most expensive gas in the nation for the 12th week in a row. California ($4.65) is second, Nevada ($4.15) is third, Washington ($4.14) is fourth, and Colorado ($4.03) is fifth. These are the only five states with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 44 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. Texas ($2.995) is the only state with an average below $3 a gallon.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Texas ($2.995) and Mississippi ($3.05). For the 109th week in a row, no state has an average below $2 a gallon.
The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $1.90 this week compared to $1.85 last week.
Oregon is one of 46 states and the District of Columbia with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is 12 cents more and the Oregon average is 11 cents more than a month ago. Colorado (+73 cents) and Utah (+46 cents) have the largest monthly gains. Indiana (-20 cents) and Hawaii (-11 cents) have the largest monthly declines.
Oregon is one of 38 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is seven cents more and the Oregon average is 15 cents less than a year ago. Colorado (+69 cents) has the largest yearly jump. Delaware (-35 cents) has the biggest year-over-year decline.
