Gas Prices Rise And Fall Based On Regional Influences

2015-04-13-trendOhio Gas Prices Spike, Holding U.S. Average In Check

The national average price of gas barely moved during the past week, according to the latest weekly report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The E.I.A. report shows U.S. gas prices remained unchanged at $2.41 per gallon, but region by region, the numbers tell a different story. For instance, drivers in California are paying about 5¢ less for gas this week, but drivers in Ohio are paying 11¢ more. Midwestern gas prices are typically the most volatile and can often influence the national average, as was the case during the past week.

Meanwhile, prices were mixed across the country, with prices across New England dropping by about a penny. However, prices across the Central Atlantic and Lower Atlantic states rose slightly, putting the broader East Coast prices slightly higher. For drivers in the Rocky Mountains, prices went up about three cents per gallon.

Truckers Get A Break With Diesel Prices Down

Meanwhile, the price of diesel dropped in every region last week, a good sign for truckers. The average price for a gallon of diesel fuel dropped an even 3¢ during the past week to $2.75 per gallon. Prices were down between two and four cents per gallon in every region except the West Coast, where a one-penny per gallon increase in California prevented the regional average from moving significantly. The West Coast averages, sans the Golden State, were down two cents per gallon.

Crude Oil Prices Are Up, But So Is Crude Supply

Pipeline Crossroads Monument
Crude oil supplies in Cushing, Oklahoma are high, the result of crude production in the U.S. Photo: Ben Cochran via Wikipedia.org.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices have been climbing slowly but steadily for the past month, for both domestic and overseas crude. The price of West Texas Intermediate was set to open early Tuesday at just over $52 per barrel after climbing about a half-dollar in overnight trading. Brent Crude was poised to open at just over $58 per barrel. That could signal a potential rise in fuel prices in the short term, but the longer-term forecast is that prices will continue to drop through the year.

The E.I.A. reported last week the price of Brent crude is likely to fall as much as 40 percent this year, and U.S. crude oil stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma, are enough to supply the country for the next 30 days, keeping downward pressure on retail prices.

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Retail Gas Gets Cheaper As Spring Break Ends

EDITOR’S NOTE: This week’s gas price story is abbreviated because we are completing the redevelopment of TurnpikeInfo.com. The gas price stories will resume in their expanded news format on April 13, 2015. The weekly trend chart and U.S. government survey will continue to be updated.

2015-04-06-trend

The cost of gas dropped nearly 4¢ per gallon, on average, across the United States last week, according to the latest weekly survey from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The E.I.A. report shows the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded dropped from $2.45 to $2.41 per gallon on the week, an about face that could signal a return to steadily-declining fuel prices.

The highest average price for gas, on a regional basis, fell below $3.00 per gallon once more during the week, as West Coast drivers enjoyed watching nearly a nickel come off the price of their gas. The price of gas was lowest along the Gulf Coast, where the average is now $2.18.

Note: Regular gas price and oil industry news coverage resumes April 13, 2015.

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Florida Sunpass Clients Due Refunds

State Of Florida Looking For Sunpass Users With Inactive Accounts FDOT-100TH

Sunpass account holders who have not used their transponders to pay tolls during the past three years are due a refund of money in their account, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Transportation.

In a news release issued this morning, FDOT spokesman Chad Huff wrote, “About 19,000 Floridians have open accounts with positive balances that haven’t been accessed or updated in the past 36 months. “Under Florida statutes, FDOT is required is required to remit funds from accounts that haven’t been accessed within three years to the Florida Bureau of Unclaimed Propert,” Mr. Huff further wrote.

Holders of these dormant accounts will be receiving letters from FDOT, but state officials acknowledge some users may not be easily reached. Some people “may have simply moved to a different area and never … closed their account,” Mr. Huff stated.

Those who can be reached and wish to close their old Sunpass account will get a refund of any balance that remains on the books. Anyone who wishes to update their account may also do so.

Anyone who believes they may be due a refund may contact the FDOT on email to request assistance updating or closing their old Sunpass accounts. That email is [email protected].

Gas Prices Level Off

EDITOR’S NOTE: This week’s gas price story is abbreviated because we are completing the redevelopment of TurnpikeInfo.com. The gas price stories will resume in their expanded news format on April 13, 2015. The weekly trend chart and U.S. government survey will continue to be updated as usual.

Gas Prices Dip Slightly According To Weekly Survey

Gas price trend for week of March 30, 2015The price of gas across the United States dropped by an average of one penny per gallon last week, according to the weekly gas price survey from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The weekly E.I.A. report shows the bulk of Americans are paying anywhere from 2¢ to 5¢ less per gallon, but pricing increases across the Lower Atlantic states and the Rocky Mountain survey region kept the broader U.S. price average from dropping further.

California drivers enjoyed a significant price drop, which helped bring the West Coast price average down about a nickel per gallon to an even $3.00. The lowest gas prices in the country are currently found in Texas and along the Gulf Coast, where the average regional price is just under $2.19 per gallon.

Note: Regular gas price and oil industry news coverage resumes April 13, 2015.

DOWNLOAD THE WEEKLY GAS PRICE SURVEY