Due to falling reserves, a slightly weaker dollar, and belief in the economic recovery, the price of oil has climbed to over $78 per barrel, which is its highest price since December 1, when the price stood at just below $78.50.
In turn, there has been slight pressure on the price of gasoline, which is up two cents for the week and now stands at $2.61 per gallon. There is usually a little bit of a lag between when swings in the price of oil hit the price of gasoline, so there will likely be a slight jump in the price of gasoline over the coming weeks.
Over the past month, the price of gasoline has moved in a very narrow range between $2.58 and $2.64 per gallon.
While this is certainly welcome news to cash-strapped consumer, the jump in the price of gasoline over the past year certainly is not. The price of gasoline is now $1 – or 62% – higher than it was at this time last year.
Currently, only Alaska ($3.77) and Hawaii ($3.68) are reporting state-wide average gasoline prices above $3 per gallon, while 14 states are reporting an average price below $2.50 per gallon. Missouri has the lowest average gasoline price in the United States at $2.41 per gallon.
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Are any new taxes, laws or regulations coming into effect in January that might influence pricing and thus affect the “average” gas price?
With the price hike alternative sources of energy may gain momentum. Till Jan 2009 fuel prices are likely to remain around $3.