Oregon, Nationwide Gas Prices Move Upward

The average price in the Salem-area moved up 6-cents in the past week to $2.76 a gallon.

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Refinery problems once again fueled an upsurge in Midwest gasoline prices, which pushed the national average price for a gallon of regular up a nickel during the past week to $2.78.

The impact of that region's tight supplies and holiday demand was felt, but not so severely, in the Pacific Northwest where Oregon's average price gained more than 3-cents per gallon to $2.77.

Now that the summer driving season is over, consumers should expect fuel prices to level off.

However, that forecast is based on the absence of any real threat to oil production from Hurricane Felix and further refinery problems.

"Refineries are selling off summer fuel grades to make room for the less expensive winter grades and now that consumer demand should lessen, the downward pricing pressure should at least hold prices steady even though crude oil prices have firmed up at more than $70 per barrel and the wholesale cost of gasoline is near two dollars per gallon," said AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Elliott Eki.

Oregon's statewide average price is still eight cents lower compared to one month ago and 20-cents lower than this time last year.

At $2.77, Oregon's average gasoline price ranks 28th in the nation.

Hawaii has the highest statewide average price at $3.22; in the contiguous U.S., North Dakota has the highest at $3.18, and South Carolina's is lowest at $2.56.

California's average price remained at $2.81, Washington's rose to $2.86, Idaho's fell to $2.78, and Nevada's held at $2.77.

The national average diesel price went up to $2.93 per gallon.

In California, the diesel average price is $3.12 per gallon; in Washington it's $3.10, in Idaho it's $3.02, and in Nevada it's $3.00.

Oregon's average diesel price went up to $2.99.