AAA
Tampa, FL – At $2.89, the national gas price average is two-cents cheaper than it was a week ago amid consumer gasoline demand declining for a third week. Today’s gas price average is four-cents more than a month ago and 42-cents more expensive than a year ago.
The majority of states have seen gas prices decrease on the week with the exception of a handful of states, some of which were impacted by fuel disruptions on the west coast and in the southeast.
“Gas prices may be signaling that they are taking a turn toward slowly decreasing, which is a welcomed change for motorists who have been paying unseasonably high pump prices to fill-up as of late,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Two events last week caused small spikes in retail prices, but those spikes are short-lived.”
On Wednesday, October 12th, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida and subsequently caused retail fuel shortages along its path in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Roadway clean-up efforts are underway and as power is restored, fuel deliveries will be a priority.
In addition, last week, a natural gas pipeline rupture in the Western Canadian province of British Columbia forced three Pacific Northwest (PNW) Puget Sound refineries to shut production units. Those refineries are beginning to resume normal operations, but states in the PNW saw spikes in gas prices that will likely last into the week.
Quick Stats
- The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets are: Mississippi ($2.61), South Carolina ($2.61), Alabama ($2.62), Missouri ($2.65), Arkansas ($2.65), Louisiana ($2.65), Texas ($2.65), Delaware ($2.66), Virginia ($2.67) and Tennessee ($2.68).
- The nation’s top 10 largest weekly changes are: Ohio (-14 cents), Michigan (-12 cents), Indiana (-10 cents), Washington (+9 cents), Oregon (+9 cents), Illinois (-8 cents), Kentucky (-7 cents), Delaware (-5 cents), Wisconsin (-5 cents) and Oklahoma (-4 cents).
South and Southeast
Hurricane Michael caused pump prices in Georgia (+2 cents) to increase on the week. However, Florida (-2 cents), South Carolina (no change) and Alabama (no change), which were also affected by the storm, saw minimal-to-no impact on gas prices. All other states in the South and Southeast are paying less or saw no change in pump prices on the week. Oklahoma (-4 cents) saw the largest price drop in the region.
For a second week, inventories saw a substantial drop, this time 1.2 million bbl on the week according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). At 78.3 million bbl, total levels sit more than one million bbl ahead of this time last year. It is likely the next EIA report will not see a large inventory decrease due to Hurricane Michael’s impact on demand, unless there is a high number of exports on the week.
West Coast
Pump prices in the West Coast region are the highest for retail gasoline in the country, with six of the region’s states represented landing in the nation’s top 10 most expensive list. Hawaii ($3.88) is the nation’s most expensive market, followed by California ($3.82), Washington ($3.53), Oregon ($3.38), Alaska ($3.37), Nevada ($3.29), and Arizona ($2.92). All prices in the region have increased on the week, with Washington and Oregon (+9 cents) leading the way, due to refinery shutdowns in the PNW.
The EIA’s weekly petroleum status report showed West Coast gasoline stocks increasing slightly to 28.28 million bbl during the week that ended on October 5th. Stocks are approximately 1.5 million bbl lower than where they were at this time last year, which has lead to price volatility as the region grapples with refinery shutdowns in the PNW. The year-on-year deficit will likely leave prices vulnerable to more shocks this week as refineries in the region resume normal operations.
Great Lakes and Central
For the first time in weeks, all Great Lakes and Central states are seeing gas prices decline, with some pump prices declining by double-digits.
A factor helping to drive down gas prices is the increase of nearly 600,000 bbl of gasoline inventories amid declining gasoline demand. With the build, EIA data measures levels at 52 million bbl once again, which, despite being a low inventory level for the region this year, is a 2.4 million year-over-year surplus. If inventories continue to increase, prices are likely to continue to decrease.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
The majority of Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states are seeing cheaper or steady gas prices on the week. Motorists in Delaware (-5 cents), Washington, D.C. (-4 cents) and Maryland (-4 cents) saw the largest declines of all states in the region.
Not only did Delaware ($2.66) have the largest pump price drop on the week, but also it is the state with the largest month-over-month decrease at 17 cents.
A large 1.4 million bbl build in gasoline inventories helped to keep gas prices mostly stable in the region. With the increase, total inventories measure at 70.6 million bbl, which is the highest for the region in nearly two years. The last time the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region measured at this level was January 2017. This should help to push gas prices down or stabilize them for motorists.
Rockies
After weeks of increasing gas prices, motorists in Colorado (-2 cent) and Montana (no change) are seeing signs of relief at the pump. Prices are also cheaper in Idaho (-2 cents), Utah (-1 cents) and Wyoming (-1 cent) on the week.
State gas price averages in the region fall within a 16-cent range: Idaho ($3.11), Utah ($3.01), Montana ($3.01), Wyoming ($2.95) and Colorado ($2.95).
With a drop of nearly 190,000 bbl, gasoline inventories register at 6.75 million bbl according to EIA data. Total inventory measures close to a 325,000 deficit compared to this time last year. If inventories can remain stable amid declining demand, motorists can expect gas prices to remain mostly steady.
Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI increased 37 cents to settle at $71.34. Oil prices saw whiplash last week, falling in line with the major selloff that occurred for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The slight gains crude prices saw at the end of last week occurred despite total domestic crude inventories growing to 410.0 million bbl last week, according to EIA’s latest weekly petroleum status report.
However, crude storage levels are 52.2 million bbl lower than where they were this time last year. The year-over-year deficit has contributed to rising crude prices, which has led to the most expensive fall gas prices since 2014.
In related news, Baker Hughes, Inc. reported that the U.S. gained eight oil rigs last week, bringing the total to 869. When compared to last year at this time, there are 126 more rigs now than in 2017.
Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
