Delaware drivers are finding both good news and bad news at the pump, Wilmington-based AAA Mid-Atlantic reported.
The good news is that local gas prices continue to drop slightly but the bad news is that many areas are seeing prices between 50 and 60 cents higher than one year ago.
The gas price in Delaware dropped another nickel a gallon. However, traveling to find the best price might not be worth the trouble according to AAAs Fuel Price Finder. Independent gas stations that sometimes are a dime cheaper than the majors were only a nickel or so less expensive.
With strong summer consumer gasoline demand expected in the months ahead, AAA says motorists can expect little relief at the pump.
A report last week from AAA Mid-Atlantic indicated that motorists are now paying $69 a month more for gas than the same period last year.
In Delaware
|
County
|
Monthly Cost of Gas 2018
|
Monthly Cost of Gas 2017
|
Monthly Cost of Gas 2016
|
|
Kent
|
$332.22
|
$267.27
|
$264.90
|
|
New Castle
|
$334.26
|
$268.97
|
$264.92
|
|
Sussex
|
$329.09
|
$265.89
|
$266.72
|
|
County
|
Percentage of Income Spent on Gas 2018
|
Percentage of Income Spent on Gas 2017
|
Percentage of Income Spent on Gas 2016
|
|
Kent
|
7.2 percent
|
5.8 percent
|
5.8 percent
|
|
New Castle
|
6.1 percent
|
4.9 percent
|
4.8 percent
|
|
Sussex
|
7.3 percent
|
5.9 percent
|
5.9 percent
|
CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES
| 6/17/2018 | Week Ago | Year Ago | |
| National | $2.90 | $2.92 | $2.30 |
| Pennsylvania | $3.05 | $3.08 | $2.51 |
| Philadelphia (5-county) | $3.08 | $3.10 | $2.53 |
| Wilkes-Barre | $3.04 | $3.08 | $2.48 |
| Bloomsburg | $3.03 | $3.06 | $2.49 |
| South Jersey | $2.82 | $2.86 | $2.26 |
| Delaware | $2.76 | $2.81 | $2.22 |
| Crude Oil |
$65.06 per barrel
(Fri. 6/15/18 close) |
$65.74 per barrel
(Fri. 6/8/18 close) |
$47.13 per barrel |
At the close of trading Friday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil settled at $65.06 per barrel, down 68 cents from last Friday.
A report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released Wednesday showed that domestic crude stockpiles fell by 4.1 million barrels, the biggest one-week drop since late March. Analysts continue to wait on the decision by members of OPEC to ease production cuts. The cartel will meet on June 22. As a result of the cut in production, crude prices have nearly tripled from its 2016 low of $26 a barrel.
“Drivers may be enjoying a continued drop in gas prices but they shouldn’t get too comfortable with it,” said Jana L. Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Motorists can expect to spend an average of $250 more on gas this season, fueled by the price of crude and the high demand for gasoline.”
To check out fuel prices in your neighborhood, log on to AAA’s Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder).
