Summer Driving Season opens at highest prices in four years

TAMPA, Fla. — The summer driving season is in full swing, and it opened with the most expensive gas prices in four years. Fortunately, those prices at the pump are beginning to trickle lower.

The national average price of $2.95 per gallon is 2 cents less than last week. The discount at the pump is begin driven by strong declines in the price of oil – which influences about half the price of gasoline.

Gas prices in Georgia declined 2 cents last week. The state average of $2.82 is 9 cents more than a month ago and 60 cents more than this time last year.

Click here to view today’s AAA’s state and metro gas price averages

  • The most expensive gas price averages in Georgia are in Atlanta ($2.88), Athens ($2.86), and Gainesville ($2.86)
  • The least expensive gas price averages in Georgia are in Augusta-Aiken ($2.67), Warner Robins ($2.68), and Columbus ($2.71)

Crude oil prices hit 7-week lows last week as the dollar gained strength and U.S. oil rig count reached the highest level since March 2015. These factors compounded the downward pressure on crude – initiated when Russia and Saudi Arabia revealed interest in raising crude output. The price of oil sank to $65.81 on Friday, after reaching a 4-year high of $72.24 per barrel just two weeks ago.

“Gas prices could drop 10-15 cents, based on recent oil price declines,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The discount will not happen overnight, because it usually takes a couple weeks for shifts like this to play out at the pump. However, any downward potential would be wiped out if futures prices suddenly bounce higher.”

Average Summer Gas Prices
2014 2015 2016 2017 Today
National $3.57 $2.71 $2.23 $2.31 $2.95
Florida $3.50 $2.58 $2.19 $2.25 $2.87
Georgia $3.48 $2.57 $2.11 $2.18 $2.82
Tennessee $3.35 $2.45 $2.03 $2.08 $2.70

Gas Price Tools

Fuel-Saving Tips
(Source: US Department of Energy)

Drive Sensibly – Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas.

  • Gas mileage can be reduced 15-30% at highway speeds / 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic
  • The equivalent of 27¢ – $1.08 per gallon

Observe the speed limit

  • Not only is it safer – it can help you save money
  • Gas mileage rapidly declines at speeds above 50 mph
  • Every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional 19 cents per gallon

Lose the weight

  • Using your trunk for storage can cost you by way of lower fuel economy
  • Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle.
  • An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle reduces your miles per gallon by about 1%
  • Like paying an additional 3 cents per gallon for every 100 pounds

Use cruise control

  • Cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed
  • Conversely, constant throttling at high speeds consumes gasoline much faster

Avoid excess idling

  • Idling uses a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour
  • Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked
  • It only takes 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle

Combine trips

  • Saves time and money
  • Fuel economy is better when your engine is warmed up and you make multiple stops

Inflate tires

  • Keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage up to 3%
  • It can mean the difference of a couple cents per gallon
  • Find the recommended tire pressure on a sticker located on the driver’s side door jamb

 

                             CURRENT AND PAST PRICE AVERAGES

                                           Regular Unleaded Gasoline

Sunday Saturday Week Ago Month Ago One Year Ago Highest Price on Record
National $2.950 $2.953 $2.970 $2.817 $2.378 $4.114 (7/17/2008)
Florida $2.866 $2.874 $2.913 $2.734 $2.375 $4.079 (7/17/2008)
Georgia $2.820 $2.822 $2.843 $2.729 $2.221 $4.164 (9/15/2008)
Tennessee $2.704 $2.708 $2.728 $2.595 $2.108 $4.118 (9/15/2008)
Click here to view current gasoline price averages

Gas Price Survey Methodology
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com. Every day up to 130,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.

About The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America.  ACG and its affiliates provide membership, insurance, financial services and travel offerings to over 9.5 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana.  ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 58 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.