National gas price average jumps nine cents since Nov. 1

(November 14, 2017) At $2.56, the national gas price average has increased nine cents inside of 13 days. Strong fall consumer gasoline demand has continued into November and is chipping away at national gasoline inventory. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports total gasoline inventories dropped by 3.3 million barrels in their latest report, according to the weekly report by AAA.

 “Compared to the first half of November last year, gas prices this November are on average 39-cents more expensive,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “However, while November gas prices have come in like a lion, AAA expects them to go out like a lamb.”

On the week, gas prices increased for the majority of states across the country. However, only four states are seeing double-digit fluctuations at the pump: Florida (+13 cents), Indiana (-13 cents), Alaska (+12 cents) and Ohio (-10 cents).

West Coast

The West Coast has seen prices push upward and the region continues to sell the most expensive gas. Gas prices on the West Coast increased as much as 12 cents on the week: Alaska $3.21 (+12 cents), Oregon $2.85 (+7 cents), California $3.24 (+3 cents), Hawaii $3.22 (+ 5 cents), Washington $2.99 (+5 cents), Arizona $2.40 (+2 cents) and Nevada $2.74 (+1 cent).

Refinery utilization on the West Coast remains high at 86.2 percent, according to the EIA weekly report. The report also showed that crude oil inputs through regional refineries also increased last week by 135,000 bbl to reach 2.388 million bbl per day.



Great Lakes and Central

Gas prices in the Great Lakes and Central states continue to see volatility across the region. Motorists in six states are paying less on the week: Indiana (-13 cents), Ohio (-10 cents), Illinois (-6 cents), Wisconsin (-2 cent), Missouri (-2 cents) and Kentucky (-1 cent).

The remaining states in the region saw modest price jumps with Nebraska’s gas price increasing the most with a five-cent increase. Michigan ($2.74) and Illinois ($2.72) are selling the most expensive gas in the region, while motorists in Kansas ($2.40) and Missouri ($3.36) are paying the least.

At 44.5 million bbl, the Great Lakes and Central region has seen gasoline inventories decline for six weeks straight and register at the lowest level since mid-November 2014.



South and Southeast

On the week, gasoline prices have increased an average of nine cents across the South and Southeast. With a 13-cent jump, Floridians are seeing the biggest change, while Oklahomans’ gas prices are five cents more than last Monday.

Regardless of the increases, the region is still selling some of the cheapest gas in the country with seven states landing on this week’s top 10 states with the least expensive gas: Alabama ($2.26), Mississippi ($2.27), South Carolina ($2.29), Louisiana ($2.30), Arkansas ($2.31), Texas ($2.31) and Oklahoma ($2.35).

Sitting at 78 million barrels, gasoline inventory in the region dipped slightly by 800,000 barrels on the week. The latest EIA report shows that regional inventory has only surpassed the 80 million barrels mark one time since Labor Day.. This move shows demand, while steady, is slowing.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

Every state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region is paying more for a gallon of gasoline on the week, with North Carolina (+6 cents) and New Jersey (+6 cents) seeing the largest jumps. The most expensive gas in the region is in Pennsylvania ($2.79) and Washington, D.C. ($2.74). Both areas also land on this week’s top 10 states with the highest gas prices. The cheapest gas in the region is in Virginia ($2.32) and Tennessee ($2.34).

According to the EIA, the region had a 1.6 million barrel draw on the week, which was the largest draw of any region in the country. At a total of 52 million barrel, regional inventories are at a low for the year. In fact, the last time regional inventory measured at the 52 million barrels mark was in December of 2014.