New Jersey Gas, Diesel Prices Continue Downward Trend

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square, The Center Square New Jersey

July 11, 2022

(The Center Square) – New Jerseyeans are beginning the week with unleaded gasoline prices more than a dime less than seven days ago and more than 30 cents below the June 13 high of $5.059 per gallon.

According to the AAA website, "today’s average in the Garden State is $4.712. That’s significant improvement over a week earlier ($4.821) and last month’s record high."

New Jersey, the last state in the country where self-serve gas is illegal and attendants are required to fill the tanks, is just under 3½ cents more than the national average ($4.712).

Specifically, AAA reports gas prices averaging as low as $4.641 in Camden County and as high as $4.858 in Somerset County.

For mid-grade fuel, the statewide average is $5.253 per gallon – a modest improvement on last week’s $5.333. A month ago, the norm was $5.475. Premium prices also improved, averaging $5.490 today after being at $5.571 a week ago and $5.713 a month ago.

Diesel averages $5.793 per gallon across the state, down from $5.895 a week ago and the record high of $6.336 on May 18. The national average is $5.642, more than 15 cents better than New Jersey.

Twenty-two states are higher than New Jersey for unleaded gas per gallon average; there are 21 higher for diesel.

The national highs for average were $5.016 for unleaded on June 14, and $5.816 for diesel on June 19, according to AAA.

New Jersey taxes at a rate of 42.4 cents per gallon on gasoline, and 49.4 cents per gallon on diesel. The state has not enacted a “gas tax holiday” of sorts, as have some others. Federal rates are 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline, and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel.

The focus of the work of The Center Square New Jersey is state and local-level government and economic reporting that approaches stories with a taxpayer sensibility.