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NEWS RELEASE |
Florida Georgia Michigan Tennessee |
U.S. AVERAGE PRICE (Per Gallon) |
GAS PRICES RISE ON RENEWED OIL STRENGTH
TAMPA, Fla. (January 22, 2019) — The national average price for gasoline is holding steady at $2.25 per gallon. This price is 10 cents less than a month ago and almost 20 cents less than this time last year.
While the national average rose only 1-cent during the past week, price-hikes were even larger in Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee.
"Rising gas prices are not uncommon during the month of January," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. "Last January, pump prices jumped 10-20 cents in various markets. The reason was the same then as it is now - rising oil prices. Oil has climbed $8 so far this year, largely due to reduced OPEC output and renewed optimism for a US-China trade deal. If oil prices make additional gains this week, motorists could see another round of rising prices at the pump. Regardless of the upswing, AAA still expects gas prices overall to average less than last year, with the national average peaking at around $2.75 by Memorial Day."
REFINERY MAINTENANCE SEASON
Additional increases are likely, in the coming weeks, as refiners enter maintenance season and prepare to switch to a more expensive-to-produce summer-blend gasoline. According to OPIS, two large turnarounds have commenced:
- In the Northeast, some extensive work is being performed at Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ complex on the Delaware River
- At the Gulf Coast, ExxonMobil has started a major turnaround that may keep a 280,000-b/d crude unit out of action for 40-60 days
OPIS reports that Gulf Coast turnaround activity is expected to peak in March with about 1 million b/d of equipment scheduled to be sidelined. While the maintenance should cut demand for U.S. crude, stronger product prices could drag crude higher. Gasoline is a perceived beneficiary of the refining downtime.
EIA FORECAST
In the latest short-term energy outlook, EIA expects U.S. regular retail gasoline prices to follow changes to the cost of crude oil, dipping from an average of $2.73/gal in 2018 to $2.47/gal in 2019, before rising to $2.62/gal in 2020.
Regional Gas Prices
Gas prices in Florida are holding steady after rising an average of 11 cents per gallon during the past week. Drivers are now paying an average price of $2.23 per gallon.
Regardless of the uptick, pump prices remain 60 cents less than what drivers paid in October, and 70 cents less than last Memorial Day - when prices reached their 2018 peak.
Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas price averages
- Most expensive gas price averages: Panama City ($2.42), West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($2.33), Miami ($2.30)
- Least expensive gas price averages: Pensacola ($2.16), Punta Gorda ($2.18), Melbourne-Titusville ($2.19)
Gas prices in Georgia are holding steady after rising an average total of 6 cents in the past 10 days. The average price for gasoline in Georgia is $2.10 per gallon, but that price could climb another 5 cents soon, based on recent strength in the oil market and rising wholesale gasoline prices.
Georgia motorists are paying 2 cents per gallon more than a week ago. However, the state average is still 5 cents less than last month, and 35 cents less than this time last year.
Despite the anticipated uptick, the state average remains 70 cents per gallon less than what drivers paid in October, and 74 cents less than last year’s peak price heading into Memorial Day weekend.
Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas price averages
- Most expensive gas price averages: Brunswick ($2.19), Hinesville-Fort Stewart ($2.19), Atlanta ($2.13)
- Least expensive gas price averages: Rome ($2.00), Augusta-Aiken ($2.00), Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($2.01)
Gas prices in Michigan are back on the rise, after declining an average total of 11 cents in 10 days. Tuesday’s state average of $2.12 per gallon is 6 cents higher than yesterday, and the same price as this time last week.
Despite the increase, drivers are still paying about 4 cents per gallon less than a month ago, and 47 cents less than this time last year. The savings are even greater when compared to some of the highest prices of 2018. On average, motorists are paying $1.01 per gallon less than when prices peaked last Memorial Day, and 92 cents per gallon less than what they paid last October.
Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas price averages
- Most expensive gas price averages: Traverse City ($2.22), Marquette ($2.20), Ann Arbor ($2.15)
- Least expensive gas price averages: Lansing-East Lansing ($2.08), Metro Detroit ($2.10), Saginaw-Bay City-Midland ($2.11)
Gas prices in Tennessee are holding steady right now, but face upward pressure, due to recent strength in the oil market and rising wholesale gasoline prices. The average price for gasoline in Tennessee is $2.01 per gallon, but should rise another 3-5 cents this week.
Tennessee motorists are paying 1-cent more than a week ago. However, the average price is still 7 cents less than last month, and 35 cents less than this time last year. Despite the anticipated uptick, the state average remains 72 cents per gallon less than last year’s high, and 68 cents per gallon less than what Tennessee motorists paid in October.
Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas price averages
- Most expensive gas price averages: Nashville ($2.07), Jackson ($2.03), Johnson City ($2.01)
- Least expensive gas price averages: Chattanooga ($1.94), Cleveland ($1.95), Morristown ($1.95)
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
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Sunday | Saturday | Week Ago | Month Ago | One Year Ago | 2018 High | Record High |
| National | $2.245 | $2.244 | $2.245 | $2.349 | $2.537 | $2.97 (5/26/2018) | $4.11 (7/17/2008) |
| Florida | $2.229 | $2.224 | $2.170 | $2.235 | $2.544 | $2.92 (5/25/2018) | $4.08 (7/17/2008) |
| Georgia | $2.104 | $2.104 | $2.084 | $2.155 | $2.445 | $2.84 (5/27/2018) | $4.16 (9/15/2008) |
| Michigan | $2.118 | $2.058 | $2.124 | $2.158 | $2.593 | $3.13 (5/25/2018) | $4.26 (5/4/2011) |
| Detroit | $2.102 | $2.055 | $2.073 | $2.184 | $2.610 | $3.11 (5/25/2018) | $4.24 (5/4/2011) |
| Tennessee | $2.005 | $2.007 | $1.997 | $2.079 | $2.359 | $2.73 (5/27/2018) | $4.12 (9/15/2008) |
| 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 9.6 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.