AAA Forecasts Lower Gas Prices in 2019

DETROIT, Mich., (January 7, 2019) —  Prices at the pump are off to their lowest start to the month of January since 2016. Gas prices in Michigan are slipping lower again, after rising 8 cents last week. Michigan motorists are paying an average price of $2.09 per gallon, which is still 28 cents per gallon less than what they paid a month ago, and 54 cents less than this time last year. 

Drivers in Michigan are still enjoying some of the lowest gas prices since December 2016. They are also paying $1.09 per gallon less than they did last Memorial Day weekend, when the state average peaked at $3.13 per gallon.

In 2018, Michigan gas prices averaged $2.75 per gallon, for regular unleaded. That was 30 cents more than the year before, and the highest annual average price since 2014. Based on these statistics, if a Michigan driver bought a 15-gallon tank of gas - every week in 2018 - they would’ve spent an average total of $2,145 on gasoline. That total cost is $234 more than what they would’ve spent on gasoline in 2017. 

Metro Detroit currently has some of the lowest gas prices in the state. At $2.04 per gallon, gas prices in Detroit are about 3 cents less than a week ago, 32 cents less than last month, and 60 cents less than this time last year. 

Unlike the state average, the average gas price in Metro Detroit did not increase last week. Drivers there are enjoying the lowest prices at the pump since December 2016. Compared to last Memorial Day, when gasoline was around $3.11 per gallon, motorists in Metro Detroit are now saving an average of $16 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline. 

Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas price averages

• Most expensive gas price averages: Jackson ($2.14), Marquette ($2.13), Lansing-East Lansing ($2.12)
• Least expensive gas price averages: Metro Detroit ($2.04), Ann Arbor ($2.06), Benton Harbor ($2.09)

The national average price for gasoline is $2.24 per gallon, which is the lowest daily average since July 2017. On average, Americans are paying 67 cents per gallon less than they did three months ago, amounting to a savings of $10 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline. 

2019 Fuel Outlook

Overall, AAA expects the national average to stay below last year’s high of $2.97, set just before Memorial Day. Government data suggests that fuel prices in 2019 will be lower than last year. The latest Short Term Energy Outlook from the U.S. Energy Information Administration has WTI crude averaging $54 per barrel in 2019. That’s $11 per barrel less than last year’s average for WTI ($65.23/b). An $11 difference in oil prices suggests a 27.5 cent discount at the pump.

In 2018, U.S. gas prices averaged $2.72 per gallon. AAA expects that average to land somewhere in the $2.50s this year. 

"Motorists should expect low gas prices to linger through January, as gasoline demand is typically the lowest of the year," said Nancy Cain, spokesperson, AAA - The Auto Club Group. "Although pump prices could become somewhat volatile this month, drivers will notice a significant increase in the spring, with the upward trend beginning as early as February. Putting global supply and demand fluctuations aside, gas prices often rise 30-70 cents in the spring, as gasoline demand increases, refiners conduct seasonal maintenance, and begin to switch to a more expensive-to-produce summer blend gasoline. AAA expects pump prices to peak around $2.75 this year, but there is higher potential if a hurricane threatens gulf coast refineries, or there are sizable swings in fuel supplies or the economy."

National Stats

• U.S. gas prices averaged $2.72 per gallon in 2018
• The national average in 2017 was $2.39 per gallon
• The national average is forecast to peak at around $2.75 per gallon in 2019
• The highest daily average price in 2018 was $2.97 per gallon

Gas Price Tools

• GasPrices.AAA.com - Daily national, state, and metro gas price averages
• AAA Mobile app - Free app that compares gas prices near you
• Gas Cost Calculator - Determine how much gasoline will cost on your next road trip

                                                                   CURRENT AND PAST PRICE AVERAGES

                                                                                     Regular Unleaded Gasoline

	Sunday	Saturday	Week Ago	Month Ago	One Year Ago	2018 Average	2018 High	Record High
National	$2.240	$2.245	$2.271	$2.443	$2.491	$2.720	$2.97 (5/26/2018)	$4.11   (7/17/2008)
Michigan	$2.087	$2.094	$2.042	$2.366	$2.633	$2.750	$3.13 (5/25/2018)	$4.26    (5/4/2011)
Detroit	$2.038	$2.042	$2.071	$2.357	$2.643	$2.762	$3.11 (5/25/2018)	$4.24    (5/4/2011)
Click here to view current gasoline price averages

Gas Price Survey Methodology
Every day up to 130,000 stations in the nation and more than 4,200 stations in Michigan are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline. 

AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com.

About AAA - The Auto Club Group
AAA in Michigan celebrated its 100th Anniversary - A Century of Service in 2016 and has over 1.4 million members across the state. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG).  Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, insurance, financial services and travel offerings to over 9.6 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 59 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. Visit AAA on the Internet at AAA.com.