DETROIT, Mich., (February 18, 2019) — After declining 4 cents early last week, gas prices in Michigan jumped 12 cents in the middle of the week. Now it appears additional price-hikes could soon be on the way.
During the past week, oil and wholesale gasoline raced to their highest prices since November. The average price for wholesale gasoline has climbed a total of 32 cents in the past three weeks; nearly half of that hike occurred last week.
Michigan gas prices are the highest of 2019. Sunday’s state average of $2.37 per gallon is 8 cents more than a week ago, and nearly 30 cents more than this time last month. Despite the recent increases, Michigan drivers are still paying almost 10 cents less than this time last year.
Gas prices in Metro Detroit also rose last week, by an average of 10 cents. Although gas prices in Metro Detroit are some of the lowest in the state, they have also hit 2019 highs. Sunday’s average price of $2.35 per gallon is almost 30 cents more than a month ago. Still, drivers are saving an average of 15 cents per gallon, compared to this time last year.
Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas price averages
- Most expensive gas price averages: Marquette ($2.42), Jackson ($2.41), Saginaw-Bay City-Midland ($2.41)
- Least expensive gas price averages: Traverse City ($2.32), Metro Detroit ($2.35), Flint ($2.36)
"Oil and wholesale gasoline prices made significant gains last week, which will likely lead to higher prices at the pump," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. "Prices rose after news that OPEC is making good on its promise to cut production, and reports of refinery issues at multiple plants in the northeast. One of the other key reasons for rising prices right now is refineries entering maintenance season. This is a time of year when refineries do ’spring cleaning’ and to prepare for the switch to summer-blend gasoline. The process causes refineries to temporarily go offline, reducing the output of gasoline into the market."
On Friday, crude oil reached it’s highest price since mid-November. The closing price of WTI was $55.59 per barrel on the NYMEX - an increase of nearly $3/b compared to the week before. That increase alone has the potential to carry a 7.5 cent jump at the pump. However, oil prices remain about $6/b less than the price this time last year; a primary reason that gas prices remain lower than last year. Meanwhile, RBOB rose 13 cents on the NYMEX last week, also reaching a 3-month high.
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 High |
Record High |
National |
$2.312 |
$2.305 |
$2.278 |
$2.242 |
$2.533 |
$2.97 (5/26/2018) |
$4.11 (7/17/2008) |
Michigan |
$2.374 |
$2.376 |
$2.294 |
$2.094 |
$2.459 |
$3.13 (5/25/2018) |
$4.26 (5/4/2011) |
Detroit |
$2.352 |
$2.344 |
$2.267 |
$2.060 |
$2.498 |
$3.11 (5/25/2018) |
$4.24 (5/4/2011) |
Click here to view current gasoline price averages |
Gas Price Survey Methodology
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com. Every day up to 130,000 stations 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.
About The Auto Club Group
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 9.8 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.