Gasoline prices have risen in the past week in Oklahoma, reaching a new average of $2.11 a gallon, an increase of 5 cents, according to AAA Oklahoma. It appears the new average will close August nearly 20 cents more than the start of the month.
“A number of factors have been driving prices higher for motorists including higher crude oil prices, refinery issues in the Gulf Coast and the threat of a tropical weather system moving into the Gulf of Mexico,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “The rising crude oil prices can be attributed in part, to talks of an agreement to limit production amongst OPEC countries and news from the U.S. Federal Reserve that the U.S. may raise interest rates in the next couple of months.”
Enid saw one of the largest jumps in average prices, going from $1.98 a gallon last week to $2.07 this week. Idabel had a similar jump in prices—$1.98 to $2.06.
Lawton has the honor of the lowest average at $2.01 a gallon while Shawnee’s average is $2.03 and the average in Ardmore is $2.04. The dubious honor of the highest average belongs to Stillwater where motorists pay $2.20 a gallon. Ponca City’s average is at $2.15 while in Bartlesville, it is $2.13.
Tulsa’s average is $2.08 while drivers in Oklahoma City pay an average of $2.12.
Only three states have gasoline price averages less than $2 a gallon. South Carolina’s average of $1.95 is lowest in the nation while Alabama sits at $1.98 and Mississippi is at $1.996. While prices jumped about a nickel a gallon in Oklahoma, some states saw bigger increases. Florida drivers saw a jump of 13 cents a gallon while those in Tennessee saw prices climb an average of 9 cents a gallon. Prices went up 8 cents in Missouri and 8 cents in Kansas.
The national average is now at $2.22 a gallon, up six cents a gallon over the past week and eight cents higher than a month ago.