As spring blooms, so do gas prices across the nation, with an 11-cent increase reported this week, according to AAA’s latest weekly update. The average price per gallon has climbed to $3.52.
“Gas prices behave much like the changing seasons,” remarked AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. “They tend to rise as spring settles in.”
The surge in oil prices is the primary culprit behind the uptick in fuel costs. However, some relief is expected for Midwestern states as the BP Whiting oil refinery in Indiana, shut down since February, has resumed operations.
Gross also noted that the current national average surpasses last year’s prices, marking a shift not seen since late December.
Presently, the national average of $3.52 reflects a nine-cent increase from the same period last year and a 25-cent surge from just a month ago.
Interestingly, despite the higher prices, gas demand has slightly decreased. Recent data from the Energy Information Administration indicates a decline in demand from 9.04 million barrels per day to 8.81 million barrels per day last week.
Among the states witnessing the most substantial spikes in gas prices are:
- Illinois (+21 cents)
- Indiana (+21 cents)
- Ohio (+18 cents)
- Maryland (+17 cents)
- Minnesota (+16 cents)
- Kentucky (+16 cents)
- Alaska (+16 cents)
- Wisconsin (+16 cents)
- Nebraska (+16 cents)
- Oregon (+16 cents)
Notably, some of these states coincide with the regions reporting the highest gas prices nationwide, including:
- California ($4.95)
- Hawaii ($4.69)
- Washington ($4.37)
- Nevada ($4.26)
- Oregon ($4.14)
- Alaska ($3.92)
- Illinois ($3.91)
- Arizona ($3.73)
- Washington, D.C. ($3.63)
- Michigan ($3.60)
