Gas prices average $2.18 nationally

Gas prices throughout the country averaged $2.18 last week, with most states seeing little change from the previous week, reported AAA.

The national average is 1 cent more than last month and 53 cents less than last year.

The states that saw the biggest impacts were Florida and Utah, both up 10 cents, and Idaho, up 5 cents. All other states either decreased by four cents or less or increased by no more than two cents.

Gas demand was up 3 percent last week to 8.8 million b/d – the highest since the pandemic started. Overall, year-over-year demand is down 8% this year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

“This summer is no doubt the cheapest at the pump for motorists in more than a decade. The last two months have yielded a national average of $2.14,” Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson, said. “While we expect to see typical fluctuation, August gas prices are not expected to spike, especially amid increases in COVID-19 cases.”

Gas prices are not expected to be impacted by Tropical Storm Isaias, which is moving up the eastern seaboard this month.

The areas that saw the biggest price drops were Washington, D.C., and Indiana (-4 cents), along with Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Colorado (-2 cents).

Gas prices are the lowest in the following states: Mississippi ($1.82), Louisiana ($1.85), Texas ($1.86), Arkansas ($1.87), Alabama ($1.88), Oklahoma ($1.88), Missouri ($1.89), South Carolina ($1.90), Tennessee ($1.92) and North Carolina ($1.96).