The national average price of gas sits at $2.93, the highest price point entering Memorial Day weekend since 2014.
The national average price of gas rang in at $2.93 on Monday, May 21. Gas prices skyrocketed by a whopping 12 cents per gallon during the past 14 days and six cents since last Monday, AAA reported. Gas prices are now at the highest price point entering Memorial Day weekend in four years, as outlined by AAA below:
Previous Memorial Day Weekend Average Price National Gas Price
May 22 – May 26, 2014 $3.65
May 21 – May 25, 2015 $2.74
May 26 – May 30, 2016 $2.32
May 25 – May 29, 2017 $2.37
“AAA forecasts nearly 37 million travelers will hit the road for the holiday weekend. Compared to an average of the last three Memorial Day weekends, pump prices are nearly 50 cents more expensive and climbing,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Trends are indicating that this summer is likely to bring the national average to at least $3/gallon.”
As of Monday, May 21, 14 states had an average gas price of $3 or more, including not just the typical West Coast states where gas tends to be more expensive, but also in six Northeastern and Midwestern states.
Minnesota (+28 cents) and Wisconsin (+27 cents) saw the greatest increases, while California continues to have the most expensive gas at $3.71.
Arizona drivers (+70 cents) are seeing the largest year-over-year increase in the region and the second largest weekly increase in the country, AAA reported.
While pump prices in the South and Southeast are the least expensive in the country, prices are still at least 50-cents more expensive than this time last year.
South Carolina has the least expensive gas in the country at $2.64, but that’s up 59 cents from this time last year when pump prices were $2.05.