Oregon Holiday Travelers Will Pay More For Gas Than All Else in Continental U.S.

At $2.67, Oregon's average gasoline price remains 2nd highest in the nation. Hawaii has the highest average price at $2.83.

Oregon's gas prices are second highest in the entire nation.

(SALEM) - In the past week, gas prices across the nation generally continued their upward swing, boosting the national average price for a gallon of regular to $2.31, compared to Oregon's statewide average of $2.67. While Oregon's average price gained almost three cents during the week, the national average increased by slightly more than a penny.

The price of crude oil, currently below $63 per barrel, is about where it was one week ago. Late last week, OPEC announced it would reduce oil production by another 500,000 barrels per day, beginning the first of February, 2007. That's in addition to the 1.2 million barrel daily reduction enacted this past fall.

The latest decision to cut output is strongly viewed as an attempt by the cartel to keep crude oil prices above the $60 threshold. If the tactic succeeds, consumers should expect fuel prices to reflect the imbalance between oil supplies and increasing world demand for energy.

At $2.67, Oregon's average gasoline price remains 2nd highest in the nation. Hawaii has the highest average price at $2.83. Washington's statewide average price rose to $2.65, Idaho's dipped to $2.37, California's climbed to $2.59, and Nevada's is $2.55. Missouri has the lowest statewide average gasoline price at $2.14.

In the past week, the national average diesel price held at $2.70 per gallon. Idaho's average diesel price was steady at $2.93, Washington's rose to $3.08, California's dropped to $3.08, Nevada's fell to $2.88 and Oregon's is unchanged at $2.97.