The national average price of a gallon of gas this morning is $3.88, according to AAA. That’s five cents more than a week ago and 21 cents more than the same time last year.
America’s worst gas prices are in California, where motorists are paying $5.69 today. Georgia has America’s least expensive gas, at $3.38 per gallon.
The increases are coming despite Americans driving less. The Energy Information Administration reports that gas demand has slowed, with Americans using 8.3 million barrels of the stuff the week ending Sept. 9 (the most recent week for which data are available). A year ago, the same week, we burned 8.5 million.
Why the increase? AAA’s Andrew Grossman explains, “Oil costs are putting upward pressure on pump prices.” Americans typically drive less in early September as schools reopen and the days get shorter. But, Gross says, “the usual decline in pump prices is being stymied for now by these high oil costs.”
There may be some relief ahead. Gas stations sell different blends of gasoline in warm and cold months. Winter gasoline is less expensive, and in September, stations typically switch to the less-expensive blend.
But Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, notes that the lower prices can take time to appear at the pump as “most stations will still be selling off their summer gasoline.” The effect of cheaper gas is also somewhat blunted by the fact that winter blends mean slightly lower mpg for most engines.
Related:
- What Rising Gas Prices Actually Cost You
- Gas Prices: How Hypermiling Saves You Money
- How to Get Better Fuel Economy in Your Existing Car
