Salem, Oregon Gas Prices Headed Downward

This week three states are in the $4-per-gallon club, down from four states last week: Hawaii, Alaska and California.

The national average for regular unleaded is down four cents this week to $3.61 a gallon, while Oregon’s average slips one-and-a-half cents to $3.97. Photo: Salem-News.com File

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The national average for regular unleaded is down four cents this week to $3.61 a gallon, while Oregon’s average slips one-and-a-half cents to $3.97.

In Salem, the average price has dropped an average of 3 cents a gallon to $3.94. In Eugene the price has dropped 4 cents to $3.98, Medford dropped 2 cents to $3.99, while the Portland-Metro area dropped one cent to $3.96.

AAA Oregon/Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says, “The national average has now dipped below the year-ago price of $3.613 a gallon. Drivers in Oregon continue to pay higher prices in comparison to a year ago when the Oregon average was $3.85, but the gap is shrinking. AAA expects gas prices to remain flat or head down a bit, barring any geopolitical concerns, major storms or refinery disruptions.”

This week three states are in the $4-per-gallon club, down from four states last week: Hawaii, Alaska and California. Washington state dips below the $4 mark this week for the first time since June 27th. Oregon’s average stopped just short of $4, climbing to a year-to-date high of $3.984 on July 3. The national average reached its year-to-date high of $3.70 on April 28.

While prices in many states remain elevated, Oregon is one of 45 states and Washington D.C. where prices have fallen in the past week with the biggest savings occurring in the Midwest: Indiana (-13 cents), Michigan (-12 cents), Kentucky (-10 cents), Ohio (-9 cents) and Illinois (-8 cents).

The month-over-month comparison is more evenly split – the price per gallon has decreased in 27 states and increased in 23 states (including Oregon) and Washington DC. The largest price drops have been in the Midwestern states of Ohio (-41 cents), Indiana (-36 cents), Michigan (-28 cents) and Illinois (-23 cents), while drivers in four states are paying a dime or more per gallon: Idaho (+14 cents), Utah (+13 cents), Alaska (+12 cents) and Colorado (+12 cents).

Year-over-year averages have increased in 36 states and Washington D.C. led by: Nevada (+18 cents), Pennsylvania (+18 cents) and Alaska (+15 cents).

This week there are four states with regular unleaded at or above $4 a gallon, down from four a week ago: Hawaii, Alaska and California. For the 25th week in a row, there are no states with an average below $3 per gallon, and no states within a dime of this mark for the 21st week in a row.

Hawaii has the most expensive gas in the country for the 90th consecutive week at $4.34, followed by Alaska at $4.18, California at $4.09 (down a nickel and third for the third week in a row), Washington at $3.98 (down three cents and fourth most expensive for the sixth consecutive week), and Oregon at $3.97 (down a penny and fifth for the third week in a row).

Idaho is 10th up from 16th last week at $3.77 (up three cents). South Carolina has the cheapest gas in the country for the fourth week in a row at $3.34 a gallon (down three cents).

Diesel prices are ticking down in most markets.

The national average slips two cents to $3.88 a gallon this week. Oregon’s average loses a penny to $3.96. Diesel is at or above $4 a gallon in 12 states (including the District of Columbia), same as last week.

Hawaii is most expensive at $4.87, followed by Connecticut at $4.31, New York at $4.26, Alaska at $4.26, and California at $4.15 (down two cents).

Washington is seventh for the fourth week in a row at $4.05 (down three cents). Idaho is 13th up from 15th at $3.98 (same price as last week). Oregon is 16th up from 18th last week. A year ago, the national average for diesel was $3.85 and Oregon's was $3.90.