Prices Increase at Kick Off to Busy Summer Driving Season

Today’s national average is $2.37 -- one cent more than a week ago, two cents more than a month ago and five cents more than a year ago. Rising gasoline demand has resulted in dropping gasoline inventories across the country, according to the latest Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report. Last week, U.S. demand for gasoline jumped 252,000 b/d to 9.7 million b/d, the highest level this year, while gasoline inventories dropped by 800,000 barrels (bbl). If the trend continues, consumers can expect to see summer gasoline prices potentially return to the high prices seen in April, when the national average for a gallon of gasoline was $2.42.

Locally, South Jersey motorists are paying an average of $2.34 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline. While this is 2 cents more per gallon than last week ($2.32), it’s actually 2 cents less per gallon than this time last month ($2.36). Today’s price is also 24 cents more per gallon than this time last year ($2.10).

Quick Stats

• The nation’s top ten markets with the biggest changes in the last week include: Ohio (-7 cents), Utah (+6 cents), Indiana (-6 cents), Delaware (+6 cents), Michigan (-6 cents), Missouri (+5 cents), Kansas (+4 cents), Iowa (+4 cents), Maryland (+4 cents) and Colorado (+4 cents).
• The nation’s top ten markets with the most expensive gas include: California ($3.10), Hawaii ($3.07), Alaska ($2.90), Washington ($2.87), Nevada ($2.74), Oregon ($2.73), Idaho ($2.59), Pennsylvania ($2.58), Washington, D.C. ($2.55) and Connecticut ($2.51).
• Gasoline prices vary significantly within the country due to, among other factors, regional supply and demand, gasoline specification requirements and taxes.
   

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

Growing demand for gasoline pressured pump prices higher across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Delaware (+6 cents) and Maryland (+4 cents) saw the biggest price increases while Pennsylvania ($2.58), Washington, D.C. ($2.55), Connecticut ($2.51) and New York ($2.51) all made the top 10 list of largest weekly increases.

OPIS reports that next year, Pittsburgh drivers could see a drop in summer gasoline prices as the state considers switching to a cheaper-to-produce, higher RVP gasoline for summer months. The switch could occur as early as summer 2018 and is similar to the decision made by Ohio’s EPA.

Oil Market Dynamics

The price per barrel of crude oil opened at less than $50 on Tuesday morning. The market remains lukewarm after last Thursday’s meeting with OPEC and non-OPEC producers regarding an extension of production cuts failed to generate more pronounced actions from the cartel. Although the group agreed to extend the cuts through March 2018, market watchers were not surprised by the move and hoped that OPEC would take more drastic measures, like deepening the cuts beyond 1.8 million barrels per day. In advance of the heavily traveled Memorial Day weekend, the market made some gains on Friday that helped to narrow the market’s losses after OPEC’s meeting.

OPEC’s efforts to rebalance the market continue to be thwarted by rising oil production in the US. According to Baker Hughes, Inc., drillers in the US added two rigs last week, marking 19 weeks of continued growth and landing at an eye-popping 722 rigs. The number is the highest since April 2015. The bright spot in the market is the advent of summer, which typically sees more drivers on the road and usually leads to greater demand reducing gasoline inventories in the US. Elevated demand would require refineries to deplete ever-increasing stocks in storage to make more gasoline and other refined products. After last week’s EIA data showed that gasoline demand in the US is increasing, market watchers will look at this week’s report to see if the trend continues.

Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.