Gasoline prices are holding at higher amounts this week, reaching an average of $3.22 per gallon across Oklahoma. It’s a penny less than a week ago but 15 cents more than one month ago reports the American Automobile Association.
Still, you could live in California where the average is up to $5.45 a gallon. As long as the world awaits an expected military response from Israel following last week’s missile and drone attack by Iran, crude oil prices will be somewhat unsteady. They’ve slipped below the $90 a barrel mark.
The Oklahoma avereage of $3.22 compares to a national average of $3.67 which is 21-cents more than a month ago and the same as a year earlier. The state also remains the third lowest average in the nation.
In Oklahoma, the average price is $3.23 per gallon in Oklahoma City, 4 cents below the average from a week ago but 20 cents higher than a month earlier. Lawton’s average is $3.11, down a penny from last week but 14 cents higher from a month ago. Prices in Tulsa average $3.25, 13 cents more than last month and two cents higher than a year ago.
The highest county average is $3.63 per gallon in Coal County where drivers in the county seat of Coalgate are accustomed to having some of the highest prices in the state. Motorists in Ellis County in the far northwest are second highest with an average price of $3.56.
A string of counties across north central Oklahoma are among the 16 states with the highest averages including Logan at $3.48, Kingfisher $3.41, Dewey at $3.40 and Woodward at $3.41.
Cotton County along the Red River is lowest with an average gasoline price of $3.02.
For now, AAA reports it’s a wait and see approach as to how the tension in the Middle East will affect the prices we pay in Oklahoma.
“The situation overseas with war in both the Middle East and Ukraine has the oil market on edge,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But this is also the time of year we may see a bit of a lull in gasoline demand between the end of spring breaks and ahead of Memorial Day. So the national average for gas may waffle a bit with small increases, some flat days, and even some price dips.”
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose slightly from 8.61 to 8.66 million b/d last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.1 million bbl to 227.4 million bbl. Higher demand and a rise in oil prices could push pump prices higher.
Today’s national average of $3.67 is 21 cents more than a month ago and the same as a year ago.
The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Mississippi ($3.11), Colorado ($3.16), Louisiana ($3.18), Oklahoma ($3.22), Arkansas ($3.23), New Mexico ($3.26), Tennesee ($3.26), Kansas ($3.26), Alabama ($3.27), and South Carolina ($3.27).
The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($5.45), Hawaii ($4.78), Washington ($4.67), Nevada ($4.63), Oregon ($4.44), Alaska ($4.37), Arizona ($3.13), Utah ($3.96), Illinois ($3.96), and Idaho, ($3.93).