At $2.69/Gallon, Oregon Gas Prices Continue to Rise

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the Salem-area now stands at $2.69.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - As 2006 draws to a close, Oregon's statewide average gasoline price continues to rise --almost two cents in the past week -- and currently stands at $2.69. That compares to the national average $2.34 per gallon, which is slightly more than three cents per gallon higher than one week ago. According to a petroleum industry spokesman, Oregon's high pump prices can be attributed to problems at a major refinery in Washington's Puget Sound area. The single refinery, which provides Oregon with about 25-percent of its supplies, has been down for more than a month, creating a local supply shortage. How soon that plant returns to full production capacity is uncertain. In the meantime, replacement fuel supplies were shipped to the region, but adverse weather and ocean conditions kept the barges offshore, slowing the distribution process. "We typically see the lowest fuel prices of the year in December and January," said AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Elliott Eki. "The full impact of this latest development and OPEC's decision to cut output by 500-thousand barrels of oil a day beginning in February remains to be seen." At $2.69, Oregon's average gasoline price remains 2nd highest in the nation. Hawaii has the highest average price at $2.82. Washington's statewide average price rose to $2.67, Idaho's held at $2.37, California's climbed to $2.66, and Nevada's moved up to $2.57. Oklahoma has the lowest statewide average gasoline price at $2.17. In the past week, the national average diesel price held at $2.70 per gallon. Idaho's average diesel price dipped to $2.92, Washington's held at $3.08, California's dropped to $3.07, Nevada's fell to $2.87 and Oregon's went down two cents to $2.95.