Salem-News.com Gas Prices articles Page 4

Crude Prices Fall while Gas Prices Keep Climbing

As a new U.S. president begins his term, there seems to be a disconnect between oil and gas prices. Crude oil has been hovering below $40 per barrel, yet we've seen pump prices increase. In fact, our Oregon average is up 23 cents in the past month to $1.96 a gallon.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon AAA's Marie Dodds says gas prices seem to be defying gravity as they continue to rise, even though crude prices have been hovering below $40 per barrel.

Last Friday, crude closed at $34.78, the lowest price since April 2005, when the nationwide average for regular unleaded was $1.76 per gallon. The national average now is $1.84, up five cents in the past week. Oregon's average increases four cents to $1.96.

Lower Gas Prices Expected This Week

After a couple weeks of increases, AAA expects gas prices will start to come down again over the next several days.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - After increasing for nearly two weeks, gas prices are stabilizing and are expected to decline over the next few days, according to Oregon AAA.

"Seasonal demand for gasoline is at its lowest point of the year, and the drop in demand for gas caused by the struggling economy does not warrant a sustained rally in gas prices." AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says.

"The national average for regular unleaded jumps up 10 cents in the past week to $1.79, while Oregon's average increases ten-and-a-half cents to $1.91. AAA believes some gas station owners may have raised prices too quickly last week, and we urge drivers to shop around before filling up."

Gaza Conflict Sends Gas Prices Higher to Start 2009

The Oregon average for regular unleaded increases six-and-a-half cents in the past week to $1.81 while the national average gains seven cents to $1.69.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Continued fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces in the Gaza Strip over the past week, and optimism for a resumption in economic growth in 2009 have propped up the price of oil and sent pump prices higher to start the new year, says AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds.

"The Oregon average for regular unleaded increases six-and-a-half cents this week to $1.81, while the national average gains seven cents to $1.69. Despite the increases, drivers are still paying the lowest prices in nearly five years with the Oregon and national averages at their lowest point since February 2004."

She says just a year ago our national and Oregon averages were at $3.11, and crude oil first passed $100 a barrel.

Oregon Gas Prices Reach Five-Year Low to Close Out 2008

2008 concludes with the lowest gas prices we've seen in nearly five years.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Drivers will end 2008 with the lowest gas prices in nearly five years. The national average for regular unleaded drops four cents this week to $1.62, while Oregon's average increases half a cent to $1.74.

Gas Prices Tick Up for First Time in 86 Days

Oregon AAA says they are still at lowest level in nearly five years.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon AAA says we've seen the national average tick up twice in the past week, after 86 consecutive days of declines.

"This development signals a potential period of firming prices during the upcoming holiday travel period," AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says.

"The national average falls nearly four cents in the past week to $1.66, while Oregon's average drops nearly eight cents to $1.73. Both averages are at their lowest point since February 2004 and more than $1.30 a gallon lower than a year ago."

Oregon Average falls to $1.80; National Average drops below $1.70

Gas prices continue to drop like a rock, with the national average reaching its lowest point since March 2004, and Oregon's average falling to levels we last saw in January 2005.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The national average hasn't been this low since March 1st, 2004 when it was $1.69 a gallon. Regular unleaded fell 11 cents in the past week to just under $1.70. Oregon's average is the lowest it's been since January 2005. It drops 12 cents this week to $1.80, says AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds.

"Both averages are more than $2.40 a gallon lower than the record highs of more than $4 a gallon set in July. That's a decline of about 58% in just five months."

The price of crude oil has fallen more than $100 per barrel since setting the record high of $147 per barrel on July 11, 2008. Today crude is trading at about $43 per barrel, after dropping to $40.81 last Friday. Dodds says, "The steep decline in crude prices is because of the faltering global economy and the resulting soft demand for fuel in the coming months."

National Average Dips below $2 a Gallon in Time for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving travelers this week will encounter the lowest gas prices since February of 2005.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Thanksgiving travelers will see gas prices that haven't been this low since February of 2005, according to Marie Dodds with Oregon AAA. The national average drops 18 cents this week to $1.88, while Oregon's average plummets 19 cents to $2.03.

Dodds says the return of substantially lower gasoline prices provides some economic relief to drivers at a time when it's sorely needed. Oregon's average is $1.12 lower than it was a year ago, while the national average is $1.20 lower." The national average dipped below $2 a gallon last Friday for the first time since March of 2005, and then fell another dime between then and today.

Auto Industry Should Drop Emissions Litigation in Exchange for Bailout

Industry sites urge that any new funds be “Precisely Targeted” to Hybrids, clean diesels and other high MPG vehicles.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - If Washington is going to give yet another loan-guarantee bailout to Detroit automakers, the price tag for doing so should include requiring the car manufacturers to end their four-year-long legal assault against global warming laws in California and three other states (Vermont, Rhode Island and New Mexico), according to 40MPG.org and TheCLEAN.org, which are projects of the Civil Society Institute.

The groups also called on Congress and the Bush Administration to narrowly target any additional loan guarantees for U.S. car makers to the development and delivery of hybrids, clean diesels and other highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Concerned Americans are being urged to go to http://www.40mpg.org/bailout to send an email urging that the bailout restrictions be supported by their members of Congress and the transition team of President-Elect Barack Obama.

Gas Prices Continue to Fall

National Average closes in on $2 a Gallon; Oregon Average at Lowest Point since March 2006.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon's gas prices are at their lowest level since March 2006, according to Oregon AAA. The statewide average for regular unleaded drops another 16 cents this week to $2.22. The national average falls another 15 cents to $2.07 and is at its lowest level since March 18, 2005.

AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says both averages are about a dollar lower than they were a year ago, and are about 50% lower than the record highs of more than $4 a gallon we set in July."

The national average for diesel also drops below $3 per gallon this week for the first time since September of last year. And Oregon's average for diesel is just above $3 per gallon, also at the lowest point since September 2007.

Gas Prices in Oregon Hit Lowest Point Since March 2006

Four U.S. states have averages below $2.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - It has been more than two and a half years since gas prices have been this low in Oregon. The statewide average for regular unleaded drops another 19 cents this week to $2.38, the lowest it's been since March 2006. The national average falls another 17 cents to $2.22 and is at its lowest level since mid-February 2007.

AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says the price of gas has been falling steadily since September, after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike battered the Gulf Coast. "Oregon's average is down 44% from the record high of $4.29 set on July 3, 2008, while the national average is down 46% from its record high of $4.11 set on July 17th of this year," Dodds said.