Gasoline prices keep going up in Oklahoma, hitting a new statewide average of $2.09 a gallon, according to the latest weekly update from AAA Oklahoma.
The $2.09 average is a four-month high and not one reporting station in the state lists an average less than $2 a gallon. Oklahoma no longer has the cheapest gasoline in the nation. Instead, 7 other states have lower averages including South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Alabama.
The lowest average is $2.05 in Enid, Idabel and Shawnee. The highest prices are still in Stillwater where the average is $2.15 a gallon while Ponca City’s average is $2.13 a gallon.
Prices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa average $2.08 a gallon.
“The state average has been above $2 for 14 consecutive days, but don’t get used to it,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Heading into 2017, gasoline demand is expected to drop drastically after a record-busting year-end holiday travel season. Pump prices will respond likewise as demand declines.”
Nationwide, retail averages have increased 28 of the past 31 days and prices have moved higher by fractions of a penny since Friday. The national average for regular gasoline currently sits at $2.29 per gallon, which is four cents more than one week ago, 16 cents more than one month ago and 29 cents more year-over-year.
AAA estimates U.S. drivers have spent about $27 billion less at the pump so far this year compared to the same period last year. Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is 29 cents more than the average price on New Year’s Day in 2016 ($2.00). Most U.S. drivers are expected to pay the second-cheapest New Year’s Day gas prices since 2009, when the national average was $1.62.