Gasoline prices across the country continued their upward trend this week, with the national average pump price rising 3 cents per gallon of gasoline.
The current average is $3.58 on Thursday, about a penny higher than in June but down 88 cents from 2022, according to AAA.
The surge is said to be due to higher oil prices, which are currently in the mid-$70s, as they were last week.
“Gas demand has changed little since last week, but compared to this time of year in 2022, it has increased nationally, with the exception of the Gulf Coast, Texas and New Mexico.” Weekly AAA News Release said. “Some industry experts speculate that the region’s scorching temperatures may be keeping people off the roads.”
updated data from Energy Information Management Bureau, showing a slight increase in gas demand from last week, rising to 8.86 million barrels per day from 8.76 million barrels per day. However, as a result, the total gasoline inventory also decreased, from 219.5 million barrels of crude oil to 218.4 million barrels.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 40 cents to a total of $75.35 near the close of trading on Wednesday.
Arizona pump prices hit the penny, 20 cents above national average
It was a little better while it lasted. After a strong month-and-a-half of a bailout of high gas prices, Arizona’s pendulum has tipped in the opposite direction, further increasing statewide volumes.
It’s only a penny, but the Copper State average total is now $3.78, about 20 cents above the national state average.
Rank-wise, Arizona is still out of the top 10 most expensive markets in the country, but much of the West Coast continues to hold the spot.
Top 10: Who pays the most?
- Washington: $4.92 (-0.03)
- California: $4.89 (-0.01)
- Hawaii: $4.68 (-0.02)
- Oregon: $4.58 (-0.03)
- Alaska: $4.30 (+0.01)
- Nevada: $4.22 (-0.01)
- Utah: $3.93 (+0.09)
- Idaho: $3.89 (-0.01)
- Illinois: $3.83 (+0.03)
- Colorado: $3.82 (-0.02)
Breakdown by county
A small change may not seem like a big deal at the state average, but at the county level it’s a dizzying change.
A number of counties swapped places on the leaderboard, most notably Maricopa County regaining the spot as the highest paying county at $3.91.
Pump prices in Pinal County rose 6 cents, the highest of all counties.
The biggest loser, or winner, was Coconino, who gave up the top spot for two weeks and shaved off six cents for good measure.
Graham County remains the cheapest option in Arizona at $3.30, even after adding five cents to the tab.
The rest of the list looks like this:
- Maricopa: $3.91 (+0.05)
- Yavapai: $3.87 (-0.01)
- Coconino: $3.87 (-0.06)
- Santa Cruz: $3.83 (-0.04)
- Mojave: $3.80 (-0.01)
- Pinal: $3.76 (+0.06)
- Apache: $3.76 (-0.01)
- Navajo: $3.75 (-0.04)
- Yuma: $3.73 (-0.01)
- La Paz: $3.66 (-0.05)
- Hira: $3.53 (+0.02)
- Cochise: $3.45 (-0.03)
- Pima: $3.45 (-0.05)
- Greenlee: $3.33
- Graham: $3.30 (+0.05)
