National Average Gas Price Pushes Upward to Three Dollars as Oregon's Average Slides Down

U.S. average continues to go up; as Oregon's continues to go down. Oregon's average price now ranks 25th in the nation.

Photo by: kmozart com

( SALEM) - As the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline continues its steady march forward, Oregon's average price is in retreat.

Since last week, the national average price gained more than 2-cents per gallon and currently stands at $3; Oregon's average price fell a tenth of a cent to $2.969. Salem’s average price for a gallon of regular is $2.94, while the average price in the Portland metropolitan area went down by more than a penny a gallon to $2.90.

But in the Medford-Ashland area, the average price increased by almost 3-cents per gallon to $3.03. Eugene drivers are paying $3.00 and Vancouver, Washington residents are seeing an average price of $2.94 for self serve regular.

In the past month, the national average price rose 15-cents per gallon, and the Oregon average price backed off by about 2-cents a gallon.

The rising pump prices are blamed on several factors. The price of crude oil continues to bounce around in the mid-$70 per barrel range, but due to the fighting in the Middle East, there's no certainty at what level it will settle for any extended time period.

In addition, the weather forced refineries in Missouri and Illinois to cease operations. Any extended loss of production at those facilities will impact prices beyond their service regions as fuel distributors bid up prices on replacement product. At $2.97, Oregon’s average gasoline price ranks 25th highest in the nation. Hawaii has the highest statewide average price at $3.36. California’s dipped to $3.24; Nevada’s is up to $3.05; Washington’s fell to $3.05, and Idaho’s remained at $2.90. South Carolina has the lowest statewide average price at $2.81. The national average diesel price moved up to $3.01 per gallon. In California, diesel averages $3.25 per gallon; in Washington, it’s up to $3.15; in Idaho, it's $3.08; in Nevada, it's $3.05; and in Oregon, it's $3.07.