As drivers settle into their fall routines, gas demand is going down, and eventually, pump prices should follow suit. The national average for a gallon of regular is down about a penny to $3.19. There remains an abundance of crude oil supply which is outweighing demand. The seasonal transition to winter-blend gasoline – which is cheaper to produce – is also beginning. While the national average has been relatively stable, drivers in the Pacific Northwest are feeling pain at the pump. Gas prices in the area have jumped more than 20 cents in the past week due to the shutdown of a major pipeline that transports fuel from Washington to Oregon. The pipeline is reportedly expected to resume operations in a few days. 

Today’s National Average: $3.194 

One Week Ago: $3.201 

One Month Ago: $3.138 

One Year Ago: $3.253 

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 9.11 million b/d last week to 8.50 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 218.5 million barrels to 220 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day. 

Oil Market Dynamics 

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $1.04 to settle at $63.67 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 3.9 million barrels from the previous week. At 424.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year. 

EV Charging 

The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 36 cents. 

State Stats 

Gas 

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.63), Washington ($4.61), Hawaii ($4.47), Oregon ($4.27), Nevada ($3.90), Alaska ($3.84), Arizona ($3.56), Idaho ($3.51), Illinois ($3.47), and Pennsylvania ($3.35). 

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.71), Louisiana ($2.79), Arkansas ($2.79), Texas ($2.79), Tennessee ($2.80), Oklahoma ($2.81), Alabama ($2.82), South Carolina ($2.85), Kentucky ($2.86), and Missouri ($2.87). 

Electric 

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Alaska (51 cents), West Virginia (47 cents), Hawaii (46 cents), South Carolina (45 cents), New Hampshire (43 cents), Alabama (43 cents), Montana (42 cents), Tennessee (42 cents), Arkansas (42 cents), and North Dakota (42 cents). 

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (25 cents), Maryland (28 cents), Missouri (28 cents), Utah (28 cents), Nebraska (29cents), Delaware (31 cents), Vermont (32 cents), North Carolina (32 cents), Colorado (33 cents), and Washington (34 cents).  

Drivers can find current gas and electric charging prices along their route using the AAA TripTik Travel planner.