Gas prices rise drastically on the MS Coast and the rest of US. Here are 5 things to know.
Mississippi has the lowest average gasoline price in the nation Monday, but the average price is steadily increasing like the rest of the U.S.
Nine cents was the average price increase per gallon on the Coast last week, according to AAA.
Mississippi’s average price of $3.09 a gallon is the lowest in the country and the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula is lower than that at $3.05. California’s $4.68 per gallon is the highest.
Here are five things to know about the cost of gasoline and what forecasters say is ahead:
- In the five weeks since 2022 began, the average price per gallon increased 15 cents a gallon on the Coast, the state and the U.S.
- Gas prices are 95 cents a gallon higher in Mississippi now than they were a year ago and 98 cents higher nationally.
- Filling a 13-gallon tank on an average size car in South Mississippi now costs $39.65 compared to $27.30 a year ago, an increase of $12.35. For a 25-gallon pickup truck, the cost is $23.75 more per fill-up.
- AAA blames blustery winter weather and geopolitical tensions for helping to drive the price of oil higher. Gas was last this expensive in 2014.
- Prices are expected to keep climbing. Analysts at GasBuddy.com expect gas to rise 40 cents a gallon before summer and possibly peak above $4 a gallon nationally in June. “After a hot start to the summer, prices should begin to decline, falling back to potentially just under $3 per gallon by the holiday season.,” the forecasters say.
Mary Perez
Sun Herald