Average retail gasoline prices in Savannah have fallen 3.9 cents a gallon in the past week to $2.26 a gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 262 gas outlets in Savannah.
The national average has not moved in the last week at $2.42 a gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Prices Sunday in Savannah were $1.11.1 cents a gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 5.5 cents higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 12.1 cents a gallon during the last month and stands $1.10.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
“Gasoline trends are all over the place, depending on where in the country motorists are,” said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. “While much of the country saw prices drift lower, two distinct regions saw the opposite.
“The Great Lakes saw prices spike as refinery issues plague the region, following in the steps of what happened at the pump in the West several weeks ago. Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin saw the largest moves at increases of more than a dime.
“The Rockies region also saw increases, yet much milder than what was hitting motorists in the Great Lakes. California led declining states, falling double digits per gallon, as refinery issues have at least for the time being been dealt with, DeHaan said.
DeHaan said the coming week shows nothing guaranteed but uncertainty as refiners begin to finish their maintenance season, boost production and begin to draw down on oil inventories that are setting records.
“This recipe will likely bring the lowest summer gasoline prices since 2010,” DeHaan said, “but the short term outlook may vary based on region, with West Coast locales seeing falling prices. Rockies and Plains states will see slight increases or stability, with Gulf and East Coast regions seeing mild declines.
“Price trends in the Great Lakes will hinge on refinery issues being resolved.”
