Maryland Gas Prices Down From One Week Ago

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Gas prices nationally are down to an average of $2.58 a gallon, but drivers are still paying more than they were a year ago to fill up their vehicles, according to the new report from the AAA auto club group. The average price was down 3 cents from last week, but 6 cents more than a month ago and 30 cents more than a year ago. Maryland drivers are paying on average 4 cents a gallon less, a slightly larger savings than neighboring states; the average price is $2.58 per gallon statewide.

At 53 percent of gas stations across the country, gas was selling for $2.50 a gallon or less, and in 78 percent of the states, motorists saw lower prices Monday than they did a year ago. The lower prices dominated in the Midwest, South and East Coast, the auto club said.

The biggest declines were in Indiana, down 14 cents; Michigan, down 11 cents; Kentucky, down 9 cents; Ohio, down 8 cents; and Illinois.

Drivers in some states are still feeling the pinch. In Hawaii, for example, gas was up 5 cents per gallon to an average of $3.44, and motorists in California and Washington paid a penny more, at $3.35 and $3.04 a gallon. Gas prices in Oregon were unchanged at $2.89 a gallon.

AAA’s Jeanette Casselano said it’s too early to tell if the one-week decline is the start of a trend toward lower gas prices.

Maryland gas averages $2.58 a gallon, the agency said, which is a drop of 4 cents from a week ago. Prices range from $2.54 gallon in Annapolis, to $2.56 in Baltimore, and $2.63 a gallon in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.

The cheapest gas in Annapolis was at $2.47 at Exxon on West Street Monday; in Baltimore a Wawa on Eastern Avenue was charged $2.45 a gallon; while gas was $2.65 a gallon at a Valero on River Road in Bethesda, according to GasBuddy.com.

Here’s a look at trends by region from AAA:

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast: The states with the largest declines include Maryland and North Carolina (down 4 cents); Delaware, Maine, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., (down 3 cents). All other states saw prices drop 1 or 2 cents. The most expensive gas prices in the region are $2.86 in Pennsylvania and $2.41 in Virginia. The biggest month-over-month increase was in New Jersey (11 cents).

South and Southeast: In all but one state, gas was cheaper Monday. Mississippi led the region with decreases of 4 cents. Florida saw a 4-cent increase to $2.64 percent a gallon, the 13th most expensive state in the country. Six states in the region ranked among the 10 cheapest for gas: Texas ($2.33), Mississippi ($2.33), South Carolina ($2.34), Alabama ($2.34), Arkansas ($2.37) and Oklahoma ($2.38).

Great Lakes and Central states: Gas prices are down everywhere except North Dakota, where they remained stable.

Rockies: Utah saw a 6-cent increase in gas, while Idaho saw prices increase 3 cents. In Colorado and Wyoming, gas prices decreased by about a penny. Gas prices remained steady in Montana, but at $2.61 a gallon, motorists there are paying the most for to fill up in the region.

You can also use AAA's Fuel Price Finder (AAA.com/fuelfinder) to locate the lowest fuel price in your area.

Image: By Melinda Fawver/Shutterstock.com