Barring any major hurricanes this year, it appears national gas prices have peaked this year, says AAA Northeast.
Today’s national gas price average of $2.18 is the same as it was last week and just as expensive as it was at the beginning of the U.S. pandemic in March. Compared to last year, today’s average price is 45 cents lower.
In Connecticut, however, drivers are seeing a penny drop. Today’s statewide average of $2.19 is one cent lower than last week and significantly less – 62 cents lower – than this time last year.
“National prices in recent weeks are like Iowa cornfields: flat,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “Statewide averages have been stalling – if not decreasing — over the last few weeks at a vast majority of pumps throughout the country.”
In fact, nearly 40 states – including Connecticut – has seen minimal movement with either no changes or a change of a penny or less. Seventy-two percent of all stations nationwide are selling gas for less than $2.25 while 41% have prices under $2 a gallon.
The reasons: lower crude prices, healthy supplies and lower demand are paving the way for one of the lowest annual gas prices averages this decade, said Mayko. In addition, as coronavirus infections increase worldwide, global demand continues to decline.
Here is AAA’s weekly price survey of Connecticut’s six metro regions:
Greater Bridgeport $2.26 Lower Fairfield County: $2.26
New Haven/Meriden $2.17 Greater Hartford $2.16
New London/Norwich $2.19 Windham/Middlesex $2.21
Statewide Average: $2.19
Today, Mississippi and Louisiana register the lowest average per-gallon prices in the nation at $1.83 and $1.85, respectively, while California and Hawaii continue to hold the highest prices in the nation with $3.21 and $3.20, respectively. Connecticut holds steady at the 20th spot on the list of states with the highest gas prices in the nation. Average gas prices may be obtained daily through wsww.gasprices.aaa.com.