Nov 21, 2016 | Fuel
Contacts: Tamra Johnson and Megan Foster
Monday, November 21, 2016
AA projects that 43.5 million Americans are expected to take a road trip this Thanksgiving and drivers will pay the second-cheapest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2008, when the national average was $1.85. Today’s national average price of $2.14 per gallon represents a savings of three cents per gallon versus one week ago and nine cents per gallon on the month. Significant yearly savings persist and pump prices are only five cents higher than compared to last year.
Retail averages have fallen steadily since Nov. 6 for a total savings of eight cents per gallon, and drivers in 45 states and the District of Columbia are paying less at the pump week-over-week. The national average is expected to near $2.00 a gallon by the end of the year.
Locally, South Jersey drivers are paying an average of $2.14 per gallon of unleaded gas. Today’s price is 5 cents cheaper than one week ago ($2.19), but is 15 cents more than one month ago ($1.99). Today’s price is also 22 cents more per gallon than this time last year ($1.92).
Quick stats
Average gas prices are below $2 per gallon in twelve states today including Oklahoma ($1.85), Missouri ($1.90), Arkansas ($1.90), Kansas ($1.90), Texas ($1.92), Mississippi ($1.95), Alabama ($1.95), Minnesota ($1.95), South Carolina ($1.96), Tennessee ($1.96), Louisiana ($1.97) and Virginia ($1.99).
The West Coast remains the most expensive region to buy gasoline in the country, led by Hawaii ($2.86), California ($2.70), Washington ($2.63), Alaska ($2.61), Nevada ($2.47) and Oregon ($2.45).
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
Pump prices in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast continue to drop at a steady rate, with prices across the region falling a couple of cents over the past week. Despite the drops, regional neighbors- New York ($2.37), Pennsylvania ($2.37) and Washington, D.C. ($2.36)- round out the list of top-10 most expensive markets in the country.
Oil Market Dynamics
Markets rallied early Monday morning and oil prices hit their highest point in three weeks as continued reports of an OPEC production agreement circulated. Last week, OPEC and non-OPEC members signaled that they might be getting closer to finalizing the details of their production agreement and proposed a production cap for Iran, which up until this point was not supportive of disrupting the amount of oil they produced. Following these discussions, many traders anticipate that it may be more likely that OPEC can solidify their production agreement at the November 30 meeting in Vienna, Austria. At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI was up 27 cents to settle at $45.69 per barrel.
Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.