(July 13, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — At 10 million barrels a day, gasoline demand reached a new Energy Information Administration (EIA) record last week, and that number only partially reflects Independence Day holiday weekend travel. The nearly 1 million barrel a day jump in demand drove down gasoline supplies by 6.1 million barrels to 235,000 million barrels and consequently pushed the national average pump price up to $3.14.

The price of crude oil, which fluctuated last week following OPEC’s failure to reach an agreement on production increases, continues to be a dominant factor in determining how high prices will go this summer. Last week ended with higher crude prices than the start, though still under $75 a barrel. AAA believes those prices have the potential to increase this week, which will only lead to more expensive pump prices, especially amid robust demand.

“Peak summer driving season is in full-swing as Americans hit the road to explore and gas prices are not backing down,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson. “Motorists are paying, on average, nearly a dollar more a gallon than last summer to fill up and close to 40 cents more than in 2019.”

On the week, about 25 state averages increased by at least two cents with a few seeing a jump of nine cents or more. State averages range from as low as $2.76 in Mississippi to as expensive as $4.31 in California.



Quick Stats

The nation’s top 10 largest increases: Utah (+11 cents), Indiana (+10 cents), Wyoming (+9 cents), Idaho (+9 cents), Alaska (+6 cents), Montana (+6 cents), South Carolina (+5 cents), North Dakota (+5 cents), Oklahoma (+4 cents) and Washington (+3 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Mississippi ($2.76), Louisiana ($2.78), Alabama ($2.82), Texas ($2.82), Missouri ($2.82), Arkansas ($2.84), South Carolina ($2.86), Kansas ($2.86), Oklahoma ($2.87) and Tennessee ($2.88).