Delaware gas prices remain about eight cents higher than a week ago, AAA reported.
Once again Delaware ended up in the top 10 states in the volatility of its gas prices. Gas prices remain below the national average, due in part to relatively low gas taxes.
The price at the pump is heading into $3.30 a gallon territory as tempeartures warm up and demand increases.
Once again, the move toward $3 gas was halted. A month ago, the average price for regular was $3.09 with many stations offering $3 gas.
| Timeframe | Regular | Mid-Grade | Premium | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Avg. | $3.284 | $3.718 | $3.991 | $4.004 |
| Yesterday Avg. | $3.283 | $3.714 | $3.954 | $4.007 |
| Week Ago Avg. | $3.162 | $3.637 | $3.905 | $3.920 |
| Month Ago Avg. | $3.086 | $3.539 | $3.789 | $4.099 |
| Year Ago Avg. | $4.087 | $4.510 | $4.734 | $5.160 |
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose a nickel since last week to hit $3.48. Robust demand for gasoline and rising oil prices are the driving factors for the recent uptick in pump prices, according to a Thursday report from AAA.
“Oil prices finally crested and have now settled above the $70 per barrel mark after weeks of hovering just below it,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, “and gas demand is very robust. These two factors will cause drivers to see prices increase for now.”
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand increased from 8.96 million to 9.15 million b/d last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased substantially by 2.9 million barrels to 226.7 million bbl. If demand continues to rise, pump prices will likely follow suit.
Thursday’s national average of $3.48 is 13 cents more than a month ago but 75 cents less than a year ago.
In Delaware, the combination of the dominant Wawa and Royal Farms chains coupled wth stations under the banners of major oil companies are likely factors in the volatility of gas prices, with independent operators having less influence. (AAA does not comment on pricing actions of specific station operators).
Again, Delaware was one of the national leaders in price spikes, a marked contrast to recently being near the top in price reductions.
Since a week ago Thursday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: Indiana (+15 cents), Ohio (+14 cents), Colorado (−14 cents), Delaware (+12 cents), Iowa (+12 cents), Kentucky (+12 cents), Illinois (+11 cents), Michigan (+11 cents), Arizona (+10 cents) and Texas (+9 cents).
