(October 20, 2020) Gasoline demand, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), back tracked for the week ending Oct. 9, decreasing from 8.90 million barrels a day to 8.58 million barrels a day. Lower demand, even as total domestic stocks decreased by 1.6 million barrels to 225.1 million barrels and imports fell to their lowest rate since Sept. 18, has contributed to pump price decreases for the majority of the country.

“Today’s national average is $2.16, which is two cents less than a week and month ago and 49 cents cheaper than last year,” said Jeanette Casselano McGee, AAA spokesperson. “Decreases in U.S. gasoline demand, supply and imports pushed the national and 44 state gas price averages cheaper on the week.”

On the week, a few Midwest states saw much larger decreases: Indiana (-6 cents), Michigan (-6 cents), Ohio (-5 cents) and Kentucky (-5 cents), which could be attributed to an increase in regional stock. A penny gas price increase was seen in these states since last Monday: Utah ($2.40), New Jersey ($2.24), Alaska ($2.50), Georgia ($2.00), South Dakota ($2.10) and Hawaii ($3.24).

 Quick stats

    •    The nation’s top 10 largest weekly decreases: Indiana (-6 cents), Washington, D.C. (-6 cents), Michigan (-6 cents), Ohio (-5 cents), Kentucky (-5 cents), Florida (-4 cents), Wisconsin (-3 cents), West Virginia (-3 cents), South Carolina (-3 cents) and North Carolina (-3 cents).

    •    The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Mississippi ($1.84), Missouri ($1.84), Texas ($1.85), Oklahoma ($1.87), Arkansas ($1.87), Louisiana ($1.89), Alabama ($1.90), South Carolina ($1.91), Tennessee ($1.93) and Kansas ($1.94).