MD Gas Prices Jump To Highest Level In 3 Years

WASHINGTON, DC — Will Maryland drivers pay $3 per gallon of gasoline by the summer travel season? Demand for gasoline hit its highest level ever in April, and it is likely the price will creep up even higher over the weekend and may continue to climb, says AAA Mid-Atlantic. Overnight the national gas price average reached the highest price for unleaded regular gasoline since June 13-20, 2015, hitting $2.80 per gallon.

Across the United States, pump prices are 40 cents higher than one year ago today. The days of cheaper gas prices have ended for the time being, or so it seems, says the agency. Pump prices may potentially increase by 5 to 10 cents through Memorial Day, predicts AAA. However, the auto club does not expect the national average to hit $3 per gallon this year. Gas prices are expected to stabilize this summer, but if demand spikes further, prices are likely to follow.

“Rising gas prices may cause headaches for those planning their next trip, especially as Memorial Day weekend is only a month away,” said Christine Sarames Delise, a spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a news release. “Motorists can take steps to save on every day gas prices by properly maintaining their vehicle, adjusting driving habits and using the right fuel for their vehicle.”

From coast to coast, consumers are taking heed of the uptick in the cost of self-serve regular gasoline. That is especially true of consumers in California, as well as customers in Pennsylvania on the East Coast, where the state average hit $3 per gallon “thanks to its high state gasoline tax,” reports the OPIS Retail Fuel Watch. Seven U.S. states – all in the west- have retail gasoline prices that are now averaging more than $3 a gallon.

The average cost to fill a vehicle with a 15-gallon tank in Washington, D.C., is $43.35, compared to $38.40 a year earlier. In contrast, a fill-up in the Washington metro area is averaging $41.25, compared to an average of $39.15 in Virginia, AAA says.

Current, Past Gas Price Averages

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AAA Mid-Atlantic has these tips to save on rising gas prices:

• Keep the tires properly inflated. Vehicles with under-inflated tires can cause a drag on the vehicle that is like driving with the parking brake slightly on. The correct PSI (pressure per square inch) for the vehicle is located on the driver side doorjamb not on the sidewall of the tire. The PSI on the sidewall of the tire is the maximum PSI for the tire, not the vehicle PSI recommendation.
• Change your air filters. Air filters clogged with dirt, dust, and insects can prevent an even exchange of air intake that wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power.
• Check the engine oil level when buying gasoline to be sure the engine is lubricated properly. Using the recommended grade of motor oil can save between three and five cents a gallon.
• Unload your trunk. Pack lightly when traveling and avoid carrying unnecessary items on the vehicle's roof or in its trunk.
• Adjust your driving habits. Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops. Driving aggressively causes your engine to work harder costing more in fuel. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by five percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
• Buy regular unleaded gasoline unless otherwise indicated by your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
• Download the AAA mobile app to find the lowest gas prices for your area.
• Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.
• AAA Gas Cost Calculator helps budget travel expenses.
• TripTik Mobile plots fuel prices along your travel route.

For all of 2018 the Energy Information Administration expects U.S. regular gasoline retail prices to average $2.64 a gallon and gasoline retail prices for all grades to average $2.76 per gallon, which would result in the average U.S. household spending about $190 (9%) more on motor fuel in 2018 compared with 2017.

Customers everywhere are coping with rising gasoline prices as demand surges. The EIA latest data register consumer gasoline demand at 9.857 million barrels a day, the highest level ever on record for the month of April and exceeds typical summer demand measurements. Of recent, U.S. gasoline demand “accounts for 10 percent of global consumption.”

Hiccups, such as recent refinery snags, along with planned seasonal maintenance, have also caused pump prices to increase. Geopolitics will play a factor in just how high gas prices climb this summer, namely whether the United States withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal on the self-imposed May 12 deadline, which could curb the amount of oil Iran “could export by approximately 1 million barrels daily,” says AAA. "This scenario, some investors fear, could potentially send “the price of crude higher in the summer months.”

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