(June 9, 2020) For 66 days, the national gas price average held below the $2/gallon mark, pushing as cheap as $1.76. In the past week, the average has inched up to $2.03. Despite the consistent increases at the pump, prices are still significantly cheaper year-over-year. In fact, during the first week of June the past five years, gas prices have typically averaged $2.81.

“The beginning of June has not seen gas prices this low since 2004,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “As crude oil prices trend higher and gasoline demand increases, Americans will see gas prices push more expensive, but this summer will be cheaper than last.”

U.S. gasoline demand continues to show increasing strength. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest reading shows a 4% weekly increase at 7.5 million  barrels a day. That is the highest demand level since states began issuing stay-at-home orders in mid-March.


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Quick stats

    •    The nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases: Colorado (+13 cents), Indiana (+12 cents), Missouri (+11 cents), Montana (+10 cents), Kentucky (+10 cents), Michigan (+9 cents), Kansas (+9 cents), Alabama (+8 cents), Tennessee (+8 cents) and Alaska (+8 cents).
   
    •    The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Mississippi ($1.66), Texas ($1.69), Louisiana ($1.70), Arkansas ($1.71), Alabama ($1.72), Oklahoma ($1.73), South Carolina ($1.73), Missouri ($1.76), Kansas ($1.77) and Virginia ($1.79).

Great Lakes and Central States

Indiana (+12 cents), Missouri (+11 cents), Kentucky (+10 cents) and Kansas (+9 cents) saw the largest pump price increases in theGreat Lakes and Central states region. They also land on the top 10 list for largest weekly increases in the country. All other states in the region saw increases, but they were only 2 to 4 cents.

Illinois ($2.29) ranks as the 7th most expensive state average in the country and the highest in the region. On the other end of the spectrum, Missouri ($1.76) and Kansas ($1.77) rank as the 8th and 9th least expensive averages, respectively.
   


South and Southeast

Gas prices are two to five cents more expensive across the South and Southeast on the week. Tennessee (+8 cents) saw the largest weekly increase in the region and ranks among the top 10 biggest changes in the country.
       
The region continues to lay claim to the cheapest prices in the country – all under $1.99. Eight states land on the top 10 list: Mississippi ($1.66), Texas ($1.69), Louisiana ($1.70), Arkansas ($1.71), Alabama ($1.72), Oklahoma ($1.73), South Carolina ($1.73) and Tennessee ($1.79)

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region continues to see the lowest pump price volatility. While gas prices increased across the region on the week, they only pushed more expensive by a few pennies. Delaware (+5 cents) and Maine (+7 cents) saw the largest increases.

Gas prices in the region range from $2.25 to $1.76. In fact, the majority of the states in the region continue to carry gas prices under $2/gallon with motorists able to fill up for $1.99 or less at 63% of stations in the region.

Rockies

Colorado (+13 cents) and Montana (+10 cents) land on this week’s top 10 list of states with the largest weekly increase. Idaho (+6 cents) is the only Rockies state to not make an appearance on this list two weeks in a row.

Over the past few weeks, pump price increases in Idaho ($2.27) and Utah ($2.27) have pushed the states back on the top 10 most expensive state average list.

West Coast

Pump prices in the West Coast region also continue to increase, which contributes to those state averages remaining the most expensive in the country. Alaska (+8 cents) saw the largest increases in the region and is last on today’s top 10 largest weekly increases list. Hawaii ($3.17) and California ($2.95) remain the most expensive markets in the country. Washington ($2.58), Nevada ($2.50), Oregon ($2.49), Alaska ($2.33) and Arizona ($2.21) follow.