Tuesday's Oklahoma average ($3.354) is 38 cents above the state's price
just 20 days ago, on Jan. 16. The recent price surge has been largely the result
of higher crude oil prices and the "rubber-banding" of mid-continent retail
gasoline prices, which fell dramatically to end the year and are now swinging
back to the upside.
At Monday's close of formal trading on the NYMEX, the price of West Texas
Intermediate settled down $1.60 at $96.17 per barrel. While prices moved lower Monday, WTI traded last week at its most expensive level since September
14.
Eleven
states have a lower gasoline price average today than Oklahoma: Wyoming $2.95,
Montana $3.04, Utah $3.15, New Mexico $3.18, Colorado $3.20, Idaho $3.26,
Arizona $3.30, Tennessee $3.32, South Carolina $3.32, South Dakota $3.34 and
Mississippi $3.345.
See the Early Year Average Gas Price 2012 v 2013.
Tuesday's national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.53. This
price is 17 cents more expensive than one week ago, 23 cents more than one month
ago and a nickel above last year's price on this date. Tuesday's price is the
highest on record for this calendar day. The national average has exceeded the
year-ago level and set a new daily record for six days in a row.
The
17-cent increase in the nationwide average since last Monday is the most
dramatic one-week spike in nearly two years and the twentieth largest weekly
increase of the 21st century. The last time the national average
increased more rapidly was Feb. 25-March 4, 2011, when violence in Northern
Africa and the Middle East, most notably in Libya, sent oil and gasoline prices
higher on fears of supply disruption. The most dramatic one-week increase on
record was Aug. 28-Sept. 4, 2005, when prices rose 46 cents in the days
following Hurricane Katrina.
AAA
Expects Gas Prices to Rise in February Due to Refinery Actions
- AAA
expects the national average to increase in February due to seasonal refinery
actions, but at a slower pace than in the previous two years when the average
climbed by 29 cents per gallon (2012) and 27 cents per gallon (2011). Despite
the expected slower overall pace, it is likely the national average will rise
temporarily above year-ago levels in the coming days.
- "Gas
prices are expected to rise steadily as many refineries temporarily close for
scheduled turnaround maintenance and as the industry begins the complicated
process of switching over to summer blends of gasoline," said Chuck Mai,
spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. "Various summer-gasoline blends are required in many
regions to meet local air quality standards, including here in Oklahoma. These
fuels cost more to produce and the changeover process can disrupt supplies in
the spring."
- February
gas prices have increased at a quick pace over the past couple of years due to
higher oil costs caused primarily by civil war in Libya (2011) and geopolitical
tensions with Iran (2012). While gas prices this February are expected to
increase at a slower rate, major events such as an unexpected refinery outage,
increased unrest in North Africa or changes in the global economy could affect
this month's forecast. The national average in February has increased nine out
of the previous ten years.
- The
national average should rise steadily through April or May as the switch to
summer-blend gasoline continues and with an increase in demand this spring. AAA
expects gas prices nationwide this spring will peak at a lower national average
than last year's high of $3.94 per gallon, which occurred on April 5 and
6.
- Oklahoma's
spring gas prices are likely to top out at about $3.50 per gallon, if nothing
catastrophic happens to disrupt supplies or distribution of gasoline or oil.
