Gas prices remain steady leading up to Memorial Day weekend

Gasoline prices in Delaware remained steady in the week leading up to the Memorial Day holiday, Wilmington-based AAA Mid-Atlantic reported.

Drivers should have little problem finding gasoline but will be paying around $1 more a gallon than they did during the holiday last year.

Delaware drivers were paying only eight cents less a gallon at the pump than their southern New Jersey counterparts, despite a Garden State gas tax that is 18 cents higher. 

The Costco Wholesale club near Newark had the state’s lowest price at  $2.80 a gallon. 

 According to new data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand increased last week, which will likely contribute to fluctuations in pump prices through the holiday weekend since holiday travelers will get to and from their destinations via vehicle.

CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES
Regular Unleaded Gasoline (*indicates record high)

At the close of NYMEX trading Friday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil settled at $66.32 per barrel, $2.74 higher than last Friday’s close.

Crude prices have stayed above $66 all week, supported by positive U.S. economic data showing strong labor market numbers and stronger demand for crude and gasoline.

“More than 450,000 Philadelphia five-county area residents will be traveling for the Memorial Day holiday, a jump of about 60 percent over last year,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.  “Gas prices locally and nationally are expected to fluctuate through the weekend as 94% of those traveling this holiday weekend will be doing so by car, which could drive up gas demand.”

To check out gas prices in your neighborhood, log on to AAA’s Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder).