Gas Prices on the Rise Once More: Unveiling the Top 10 States with the Lowest and Highest Gasoline Costs
Gas prices rising again: See the top 10 states where gas is cheapest and most expensive
Gas prices are once again on the rise, and the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas has reached an eight-month high at $3.71, according to the AAA motor club.
The primary reason for this increase seems to be the surge in oil prices, which have risen nearly $4 in recent days, hovering close to $80 per barrel. Since oil contributes to almost 50 percent of the cost of a gallon of gas, higher oil prices inevitably lead to higher pump prices.
Experts also point to the ongoing summer heat wave as a contributing factor. The extreme heat has affected refinery operations, preventing them from running at full capacity. When refineries in a region have lower or falling utilization rates, gas prices tend to rise, as explained by Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a platform that helps people find affordable gas.
Nationwide, refinery utilization dropped by 0.9 percentage points from the previous week to 93.6%. This led to a decrease in gasoline production to 9.5 million barrels per day and distillate fuel production to 4.8 million barrels per day.
Now, let’s take a look at the states where you can find the most expensive and cheapest gas, based on AAA’s data:
States with the most expensive gas:
- California: $5.05 per gallon
- Washington: $4.99 per gallon
- Hawaii: $4.73 per gallon
- Oregon: $4.65 per gallon
- Alaska: $4.41 per gallon
- Nevada: $4.33 per gallon
- Utah: $4.11 per gallon
- Illinois: $4.06 per gallon
- Idaho: $4.00 per gallon
- Colorado: $3.97 per gallon
States with the cheapest gas:
- Mississippi: $3.33 per gallon
- Louisiana: $3.44 per gallon
- Alabama: $3.45 per gallon
- Kentucky: $3.46 per gallon
- Ohio: $3.46 per gallon
- Tennessee: $3.48 per gallon
- Texas: $3.49 per gallon
- Arkansas: $3.50 per gallon
- South Carolina: $3.54 per gallon
- Oklahoma: $3.58 per gallon
As gas prices continue to fluctuate, it’s essential to keep an eye on the factors affecting them and explore options for more affordable fuel sources in your area.
