AAA: Gas Prices Showing Little to Moderate Movement

LEWISTON, ID – Gas prices are showing little to moderate movement this week. The national average for regular unleaded dipped a penny to $3.40.

In Idaho, the average price is $3.69 per gallon – up one cent from a week ago and 17 cents higher than a year ago. Locally, the average price in Lewiston is $3.55, which is down four cents from last week and 11 cents higher than one year ago.

In Washington State, gas prices are averaging $4.20 per gallon. This is six cents higher than a week ago and 22 cents higher than a year ago. In Clarkston, the average price is $3.71 per gallon. That is 12 cents higher than last week and 19 cents higher than last year. The Evergreen State has the 4th-highest gas prices in the country.

For Oregon, the average price gained six cents to $3.86 over a week ago. A year ago, the average price was $3.99.

Most states, including Oregon, are seeing prices change by six cents or less.  Slack demand for gas and waffling oil prices are the primary reasons for relatively stable prices, AAA says.

“Crude oil is trading around $76 today compared to $79 a week ago. In January, West Texas Intermediate ranged between about $73 and $82 bbl. and was $92 a year ago. Crude reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008,” according to AAA.

The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with six of the seven states in the top 10.

“This is typical for the West Coast as this region tends to consistently have fairly tight supplies, consuming about as much gasoline as is produced. In addition, this region is located relatively far from parts of the country where oil drilling, production and refining occurs, so transportation costs are higher. And environmental programs in this region add to the cost of production, storage and distribution,” AAA says.