Gasoline prices are up again in Oklahoma, reaching a new statewide average of $2.15 a gallon, according to the latest price report from AAA Oklahoma. It’s a 9-cent jump compared to one week ago when the average was $2.06.
“There are a lot of things putting upward pressure on oil and gas prices,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “With the advent of spring, people are driving more which boosts demand, refineries have begun producing more expensive summertime blends, there’s still some uncertainty over OPEC’s extension of production cuts and the market continues to be skittish over the U.S. bombings in Syria. While Syria is not a major oil producer, many of its neighbors are.”
His organization is predicting gasoline prices could hit $2.40 a gallon by summer while the national average will climb to $2.70 a gallon. What has kept prices where they are now is the U.S. production.
As of early this week, the average in Tulsa was $2.11, an increase of 36-cents over the past year. Oklahoma City’s average was $2.15, a jump of 34 cents from one year ago. The national average was $2.39 this week.
Despite the jump in prices, Oklahoma is still among those states with the cheapest gasoline in the country. It is ranked 5th lowest. South Carolina is lowest at $2.11 followed by Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi at $2.14.
The highest prices are in Hawaii where motorists pay an average of $3.04 a gallon. California is $2.99 and Washington state is $2.89.
Over the past week, the largest jumps in prices were in Kentucky where motorists were hit with a 15-cent bump. Florida and Michigan drivers saw a 12-percent jump.