U.S. Gas Prices Surge to $3.60, Driven by Oil and Maintenance

Gas prices hit a six-month high at $3.60 per gallon in the U.S. this week, driven by high oil prices, refinery maintenance, and international energy market turbulence. The national average price briefly reached $3.60 before easing slightly to $3.58, according to GasBuddy, although AAA reports it at $3.60.

This increase of 6.5 cents over the past week and 17.1 cents from a month ago is partly due to extensive refinery maintenance on the West Coast, the shift to more expensive summer fuel blends, rising gasoline demand, and high oil prices, says Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head petroleum expert.

Over the past month, the West Texas Intermediate crude oil benchmark has risen nearly 10% to $85 per barrel, a six-month high, while the international benchmark Brent Crude Oil is just below $90, also a six-month high. De Haan attributes this spike to recent production cuts by OPEC producers Russia and Saudi Arabia, as well as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In California, gas prices hit $5.35 per gallon, the highest in the country, followed by Hawaii ($4.72), Washington ($4.62), Nevada ($4.56), Oregon ($4.39), and Alaska ($4.26). The cheapest gas can be found in the Southeast, Great Plains, and parts of the Rocky Mountains, with Colorado at $3.05 per gallon, Mississippi at $3.10, and Oklahoma at $3.15.

Gas prices in the U.S. surpassed $3.50 per gallon last month for the first time since the fall, attributed to rising oil prices due to international instability, including conflict in the Middle East and attacks on Russian oil facilities. While prices have rebounded from their winter lows, they remain well below last year’s summer peak of $3.85 and far from the record high of $5.02 in June 2022, driven by high demand and an unstable international energy market.