As pump prices continue to climb, 80 percent of stations selling below $2.50

(February 26, 2019) Motorists can fill up for $2.50 or less at four in five gas stations throughout the country despite more than 40 states seeing gas price averages increase on the week. At $2.39, the national gas price average is eight cents more expensive than last week and 12 cents more expensive than last month, yet remains 12 cents cheaper year-over-year.

“On average, gas prices this year are 11 percent cheaper than the first two months of 2018 in part due to mostly cheaper crude oil prices so far this year,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson.

“Even though pump prices are on the rise, the increase has been countered by mostly decreasing demand, leading to the majority of people still paying less than $2.50.”

Pump prices have increased around the country as refineries gear up for spring gasoline production and maintenance season.

Quick Stats

    The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets are: Mississippi ($2.10), Alabama ($2.12), Louisiana ($2.12), Arkansas ($2.13), Missouri ($2.13), Texas ($2.14), Colorado ($2.14), South Carolina ($2.15), Virginia ($2.17) and Kansas ($2.18).

    The nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases are: Minnesota (+15 cents), New Mexico (+13 cents), Iowa (+12 cents), Indiana (+12 cents), North Carolina (+11 cents), Nebraska (+11 cents), Florida (+11 cents), Alabama (+11 cents), South Carolina (+10 cents) and Illinois (+10 cents).



Great Lakes and Central

With gas prices increasing on the week as much as 15 cents in the region, Illinois ($2.45), Michigan ($2.41) and Indiana ($2.40) carry the most expensive state averages among Great Lakes and Central states. This week, Minnesota (+15 cents) saw the largest increase while  Iowa and Indiana saw the second biggest increases at 12 cents, followed by Nebraska (+11 cents), Illinois (+10 cents) and Wisconsin (+10 cents).

South and Southeast

Five South and Southeast states’ gas price averages jumped double-digits on the week: New Mexico (+13 cents), Florida (+11 cents), Alabama (+11 cents), South Carolina (+10 cents) and Mississippi (+10 cents). At $2.34, Florida touts the most expensive average in the region followed by Georgia ($2.28).

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

North Carolina (+11 cents) was the only Mid-Atlantic and Northeast state to see gas prices jump double digits on the week, though three states saw a nine cent increase: Tennessee, Maine and West Virginia. All state averages are more expensive on the week with pump prices ranging from as expensive as $2.61 in Pennsylvania to as cheap as $2.18 in Tennessee.

Rockies

This winter, decreases at the pump have been the major trend for states in the Rockies region. With a three-cent decrease, Utah saw the second largest decrease of any state in the country on the week. Overall, the region’s gas prices are only more expensive than states in the South and Southeast region. Today’s pump prices in the Rockies are: Colorado ($2.14), Utah ($2.19), Wyoming ($2.25), Montana ($2.27) and Idaho ($2.28).

West Coast

Pump prices in the West Coast region are among the highest pump prices in the nation, with most of the region’s states landing on the nation’s top 10 most expensive list. At $3.28, California is the most expensive market. Hawaii ($3.26), Washington ($2.86), Nevada ($2.83), Alaska ($2.78) and Oregon ($2.74) follow. Arizona ($2.42) is the only state in the region that dropped from the 10 most expensive markets list. Prices in the region have mostly declined on the week, with Alaska (-4 cents) seeing the largest drop.