Gas prices hold steady below national average

Published 4:51 pm Friday, March 10, 2017

Average retail gasoline prices in Alabama have not moved in the past week, averaging $2.06/g as of March 5, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 3,348 gas outlets in Alabama.

This compares with the national average that has increased 2.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.31/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Alabama during the past week, prices yesterday were 47.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 1.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

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The national average has increased 5.0 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 49.5 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on March 6 in Alabama have ranged widely over the last five years:

$1.59/g in 2016, $2.20/g in 2015, $3.20/g in 2014, $3.57/g in 2013 and $3.59/g in 2012.

Areas near Alabama and their current gas price climate:

Birmingham- $2.04/g, up 0.7 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.03/g.

Montgomery- $2.07/g, down 0.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.07/g.

Huntsville- $2.06/g, down 0.7 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.06/g.

“Gasoline prices are starting to pick up steam as a majority of states see their average rise over last week, a function of the season’s theatrics coming into view: refinery maintenance and the transition to cleaner gasoline pumping up prices,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com.

“Some states gas prices may slightly lag the upward trend being seen in 38 states as remaining winter gasoline inventories are purged.

However, as we grow closer to Baseball’s Opening Day, the nation’s motorists will be more likely to strikeout when trying to find $1.99 gas prices, which remain at just 8,000 stations across just handful of states.