Gas prices fluctuate across the country

(August 22, 2017) At $2.33, the national gas price average is two cents cheaper than a week ago. Consumers in most Midwest, East Coast and Southern states are paying, on average, two cents less on the week, while most West Coast and Rockies states are seeing pump prices increase on average by three cents, AAA reported Monday.

Today’s national average is five cents more than a month ago and 17 cents more expensive than a year ago.

As gas prices continue to fluctuate across the country, growth in gasoline production combined with record-breaking high refinery runs continue to drive the country’s already relatively high gasoline inventories even higher.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that despite growing domestic and foreign demand, today’s national gasoline inventory levels sit at 231 million bbl and remain higher than the previous five-year average.

Quick Stats

The nation’s largest weekly changes are: Indiana (-10 cents), Oregon (+10 cents), Ohio (-9 cents), Michigan (-8 cents), Idaho (+7 cents), Illinois (-5 cents), Utah (+5 cents), Washington (+5 cents), Kansas (-4 cents) and Nebraska (-4 cents).

The nation’s top ten least expensive markets are: South Carolina ($2.06), Alabama ($2.09), Mississippi ($2.09), Oklahoma ($2.10), Arkansas ($2.10), Texas ($2.14), Tennessee ($2.14), Virginia ($2.14), Missouri ($2.14) and Louisiana ($2.15).