Pump Prices Reverse Course Post Three Week Slide Phoenix, Ariz., February 25, 2010. After three weeks of price decreases, pump prices across the state and country are on the rise once again. Statewide, motorists are currently paying $2.644 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, an increase of three cents from last week. Today’s nationwide average is $2.693 per gallon, an increase of nearly eight cents from last week.
This week, the price of crude oil continued to detach itself from the fundamentals of supply and demand, surpassing the $80 per barrel threshold before receding to the high $70 per barrel range as of this afternoon. This movement occurred despite a continued muted demand for crude oil, as supplies of both crude and fuel are sitting on a healthy cushion, per the Energy Information Administration.
“This week, economic optimism continued to enable crude oil to sustain a higher price, despite opposing market fundamentals, which resulted in retail prices reversing course and creeping back up,” said AAA Arizona Public Affairs Director Linda Gorman. “If crude prices continue to show strength, this trend can be expected to continue.”
In Arizona, Tucson drivers are paying the state’s lowest fuel price with an average of $2.499, while Flagstaff motorists are paying the state’s highest fuel price with an average of $2.816 per gallon. Nationwide, motorists in Missouri are paying the nation’s lowest fuel price with an average of $2.521 per gallon, while California motorists continue to pay the most for fuel in the lower 48 states with an average of $2.950 per gallon.
Motorists can visit www.AAAaz.com/news/fuelnews.htm for fuel price information and gas saving tips or go to www.AAA.com/fuelfinder to locate the station with the cheapest gas in their neighborhood. They can also visit www.fuelcostcalculator.com, which can help drivers plan out their fuel costs so they can budget their travel expenses in advance.
City |
Today’s Price |
Change from last week |
Premium |
Diesel |
Last Year’s Price |
East Valley
(Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Apache Junction, Queen Creek) |
$2.595 |
+4.2 |
$2.863 |
$2.843 |
$1.977 |
Flagstaff |
$2.816 |
+4.4 |
$3.105 |
2.919 |
$2.180 |
Glendale |
$2.633 |
+5.7 |
$2.904 |
$2.906 |
$1.999 |
Peoria |
$2.610 |
+4.5 |
$2.879 |
$2.848 |
$1.986 |
Phoenix (city) |
$2.623 |
+4.0 |
$2.893 |
$2.884 |
$1.987 |
Pima County |
$2.520 |
+1.9 |
$2.780 |
$2.909 |
$1.924 |
Prescott
(Tri-Cities) |
$2.640 |
+0.1 |
$2.912 |
$2.827 |
$2.034 |
Scottsdale
(Scottsdale, Fountain Hills) |
$2.708 |
+2.8 |
$2.987 |
$3.016 |
$2.044 |
Tucson |
$2.499 |
+2.2 |
$2.757 |
$2.891 |
$1.911 |
Yuma |
$2.679 |
+0.6 |
$2.954 |
$2.723 |
$2.041 |
Statewide |
$2.644 |
+3.2 |
$2.917 |
$2.894 |
$2.026 |
National |
$2.693 |
+7.9 |
$2.963 |
$2.867 |
$1.891 |
E-85 |
$2.330 |
-7.9 |
- |
- |
$1.638 |
*E85 MPG/BTU adjusted price |
$3.066 |
-10.4 |
- |
- |
$2.156 |
*The BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is the nationwide average price of E-85 adjusted to reflect the lower energy content as expressed in British Thermal Units - and hence miles per gallon - available in a gallon of E-85 as compared to the same volume of conventional gasoline. The BTU-adjusted price calculated by OPIS and AAA is not an actual retail average price paid by consumers. It is calculated and displayed as part of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report because according to the Energy Information Administration E-85 delivers approximately 25 percent fewer BTUs by volume than conventional gasoline. Because "flexible fuel" vehicles can operate on conventional fuel and E-85, the BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is essential to understanding the cost implications of each fuel choice for consumers.
AAA Arizona’s Weekly Fuel Gauge includes data from gasoline stations in every Arizona community. However, only major metropolitan areas are shown in the table above. Local prices in some communities might be higher or lower than the averages shown here.
NOTE: AAA Fuel Gauge data should include attribution to AAA.
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