Pulling into the gas pump and watching the total rise as each gallon flows into the tank is a phenomenon most Valley residents are all too familiar with in recent months. Silicon Valley gas prices officially hit $5 on Wednesday. This is a benchmark indicator of the state’s upward trend in gas prices.
The average price of a gallon of regular fuel in Scottsdale was $5.05 on Wednesday, according to AAA data. The East Valley averaged $5 per gallon, followed by Glendale at $4.99 and Phoenix-Mesa at $4.96.
What do these averages have in common? They’ve all been up since this time last week and have been gradually increasing since a month ago.
Regular fuel in Arizona was $4.66 a gallon as of Wednesday, according to AAA data. That total is 18 cents higher than last week’s average and 69 cents higher than last month’s average.
The state now boasts the second-highest gas prices in the nation, less than a dollar above the national average, according to AAA data. Arizona trailed by 25 cents a gallon as of Wednesday, falling short of the “most expensive gas in the country” title thanks to California.
Why are gas prices so high in Arizona?
According to AAA, the high cost of crude oil, the main raw material for gasoline, is the main determinant of the price consumers pay for pumping.
Oil prices are currently hovering in the low $80s per barrel, and AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said the indicator puts significant upward pressure on gas prices.
“As long as oil costs remain at current levels, drivers are likely to see higher prices for now,” Gross said.
Arizona isn’t the only state where gasoline prices are trending higher. The national average has risen daily since March 29 due to tight gasoline supplies and high oil prices. His $3.68 national average today is 21 cents higher than it was a month ago.
In addition to rising oil prices, Gross said seasonal switch to summer blend gasoline as the culprit of high pump prices.
“This blend is designed to reduce summer emissions and has higher refining costs,” Gross said. said.
What is the average gas price in Arizona?
Arizona led the pack of 10 states that saw the biggest average gas price rise since last Thursday with an extra 18 cents a gallon, according to AAA data.
The average price increase reflects the state’s average gas price of $4.66 as of Wednesday, a steady increase compared to weeks and months ago.
At this time last year, gas prices in the state averaged $4.56 a gallon, far higher than they were a few years ago. The 2021 average was $2.86.
The $4.66 figure is an average of Scottsdale’s highest gas price of $5.05 and Sierra Vista Douglas’ lowest gas price of $3.98.
Pima County up an average of $1 from last month
As of Wednesday, the Pima County average was $4.61 a gallon, 39 cents lower than Maricopa County, but still 14 cents higher than last week’s average.
Pima County’s average price per gallon is up $1 since this time last month, and on March 19, the average price was $3.61 per gallon.
Tucson residents can expect to pay about $4.60 per gallon as of Wednesday.
Sierra Vista Douglas, which borders Pima County, boasts the lowest average gas price in the state at $3.98 per gallon. While still 62 cents cheaper than neighboring Tucson County, it continues to follow the trend of rising gas prices in Arizona, up 8 cents from last week.
Which counties have the highest and lowest gas prices?
Maricopa County leads the state with the most expensive gas, averaging $5 per gallon. Residents of Scottsdale, East and West Valleys, Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale can expect to pay that price, if not a few cents less.
Prices are starting to fall outside of the state’s major metropolitan areas. Coconino County averaged $4.34 per gallon, followed by Yavapai County at $4.28 and Mojave County at $4.09. The Yuma County average was $4 per gallon.
Gila County averaged $4.08 per gallon, while Pinal County was slightly higher at $4.55 per gallon. In neighboring Cochise County, it averaged $3.99 per gallon.
The cheapest place to get gasoline is Graham County, about 150 miles east of Metro Phoenix, where gasoline costs an average of $3.71 per gallon.
Tips for saving money on your pump while traveling in the summer
With fuel prices skyrocketing with no end in sight, Arizonas can take advantage of loyalty programs at gas stations and grocery stores to save on every fuel purchase and save a little money on the pump.
Many of these programs are free to sign up for. Here are five popular gas rewards programs and what they offer.
Save up to 10 cents per gallon at participating stations with Circle K Easy Pay. It works by giving customers a debit card linked to their bank account so they can get discounts at Circle K gas stations.
Circle K currently has a sign-up offer that allows new Easy Pay customers to save 30 cents per gallon on their first 100 gallons or 60 days of gas purchases. According to our customer service representatives, registration offers do not have an expiration date.
There’s also GasBuddy, an app used to find low gas prices that also offers Fry’s and Albertsons/Safeway fuel points, Shell Fuel Rewards, and a gas savings card.
Learn more about five popular gas reward programs and what they offer consumers here.
AAA: Save more by driving safely
“Poor driving is not only dangerous, it’s expensive,” AAA wrote. Fuel saving tips webpageThe company says that adopting improved driving behavior not only makes driving safer, but also contributes to significant savings on gas pumps.
AAA provided the following tips for maximizing fuel economy and miles per gallon amid rising gas prices nationwide.
- In hot weather, park in the shade or use a sunscreen on your windshield to reduce heat buildup inside your vehicle. This reduces the need for air conditioning (and fuel) to cool the car.
- Remove unnecessary and bulky items from your car. Heavier vehicles require more fuel to accelerate, and smaller vehicles lose more fuel than larger vehicles.
- Minimize use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use. Even an empty bike, canoe, or ski rack can cause poor fuel economy on the highway, and a loaded rack or cartop container can have a significant impact on fuel economy.
- Plan ahead to cover multiple errands in one trip, and avoid high traffic hours whenever possible.
- When driving around town, adjust your speed to match the “time” at the traffic light. This reduces repetitive braking and acceleration that consumes additional fuel.
- Avoid long idling in general. If you stop for more than 60 seconds, turn off the engine to save fuel.
