Gasoline prices in Montana have experienced fluctuations in recent weeks. According to a recent report from Newstalkkgvo, gas prices at one Missoula gas station jumped by 10 cents a gallon in just one day. This increase is attributed to 'seasonality' and is part of a larger trend of rising gas prices across Montana. The statewide average is currently around $3.57 per gallon, which is 11.5 cents higher than a month ago and 16.8 cents higher than a year ago. Almost all the stations in Missoula had their prices set to at least $3.59 per gallon. The cheapest station in Montana was priced at $3.28 per gallon yesterday while the most expensive was $3.99 per gallon. Montana is currently ranked 16th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas, up one spot from last week [76048c12].
Diesel prices in Montana, on the other hand, have remained stable, ranging from the $3.60s to the $3.90s. This stability has helped keep inflationary levels in check for goods shipped with diesel fuel. It is worth noting that the current situation in the Middle East, particularly Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, could potentially impact gas prices if it becomes more impactful, but for now, it has had limited impact. With Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, the risk to crude oil has diminished, and the situation is likely to de-escalate going forward. Motorists in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. will soon see a spike in prices as they make the leap to summer gasoline. The national average price is likely to climb again in the coming week [76048c12].
Despite the recent increase, gas prices in Montana have continued to decrease overall. Gasoline prices in Montana have fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.87 per gallon today. This is 8.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 13.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.04 per gallon today. The national average is down 1.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 23.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 2.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.89 per gallon. Gas prices in Montana have continued to decrease, with the average price now below the national average. The current average price of gasoline in Montana is $3.13 per gallon, which is 44.7 cents lower than a month ago and 27.6 cents lower than a year ago. The cheapest station in Montana is selling gas for $2.99 per gallon. Despite the drop in prices, fewer people reported that their plans were affected by high gas prices this year compared to last year. Additionally, more Americans plan to take a road trip this year for Thanksgiving, with 41% of respondents indicating their intention to do so. The majority of travelers plan to begin their trip on Wednesday or Thursday and leave between 8-11 a.m. Overall, gas prices are lower than they were a month ago and significantly lower than they were a year ago. GasBuddy predicts that the national average price of gas will further decrease to $3.25 per gallon during the Thanksgiving holiday, saving Americans nearly $1.2 billion compared to last year [a8489a37] [2a3a23be]. Montana gasoline prices have fallen 0.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.57 per gallon today. Prices in Montana are 2.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 9.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The cheapest station in Montana was priced at $3.28 per gallon yesterday while the most expensive was $3.89 per gallon. Montana is currently ranked 25th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas, up nine spots from last week. The national average price of gasoline has risen 4.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.64 per gallon today. The national average is up 10.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 1.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel is down 0.4 cents in the last week and stands at $4.01 per gallon. The nationwide changeover to summer gasoline is now complete. Refinery maintenance has been causing prices to rise, but it is expected to wrap up soon, putting downward pressure on gasoline prices. The conflict between Iran and Israel has not had much impact on gas prices. The price of oil has moved slightly lower following the de-escalation between the two countries. Americans are hopeful for relief in gas prices with reduced concern in the Middle East and the end of seasonal factors pushing prices up [19c526ab].
Gas prices in Yakima, Washington have started to decrease after weeks of increases. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Yakima is currently $4.41 per gallon. The cheapest station in the Yakima valley is selling gas for $3.93 per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.63 per gallon today. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, is optimistic about the future of gas prices and believes relief is on the way. While the latter half of the summer could potentially see hurricane-related issues, De Haan believes that this summer will likely not feature record gasoline prices. Residents in neighboring areas such as Tacoma and Seattle are also experiencing fluctuations in gas prices. In Tacoma, the average price is $4.64 per gallon, up 3.5 cents from last week. Seattle residents are paying an average of $4.81 per gallon, up 1.6 cents from last week. Overall, Washington state has seen an increase in gas prices, with the average price currently at $4.63 per gallon. It remains to be seen whether gas prices will continue to decrease in Yakima and other areas in the coming weeks [4b4ba92d].
Gas prices in Chattanooga are falling as the summer travel season approaches. AAA predicts that this Memorial Day weekend will be the busiest for travel since 2005, with 43.8 million Americans, including over 900,000 in Tennessee, expected to travel 50 miles or more from home. Road trips are expected to set a record, with 38.4 million people traveling by car. Gas prices in Chattanooga are currently down by 17.1 cents per gallon in the past month and 6.7 cents per gallon below last year. The average price of regular gas in Chattanooga is $2.94 a gallon, which is 61 cents below the U.S. average. Gas prices are expected to continue to trend lower leading up to the July Fourth holiday. Cheaper gas prices are expected to aid drive-to destinations like Chattanooga, which hosts over 15 million visitors a year and generates over $1.5 billion into the local economy. The Tennessee Aquarium, one of Chattanooga's biggest tourist attractions, has seen a solid start to the year and expects strong attendance during the summer months. The central location of Tennessee makes it an affordable travel destination for families within a day's drive. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes over the Memorial Day weekend to help traffic flow smoothly and efficiently. [689c5dc9] [53201993]