DC Gas Prices Break Record, VA Nears Milestone Over $4 Per Gallon

MARYLAND — Gas prices reached record levels in the District of Columbia on Monday — and crept closer to a record in Virginia — as the national and state average passed $4 per gallon for the first time in more than a decade.

AAA Mid-Atlantic said the average retail price of a gallon of regular, self-service gasoline in Washington, D.C., reached an all-time high Monday of $4.22, breaking the old record of $4.20, which was reached on May 12, 2011.

Monday’s District price is 7 cents more than one day earlier, 45 cents more than last week, 60 cents more than a month ago, and $1.29 more than a year ago, AAA officials said.

“As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, the price of crude oil continues to climb, as well, translating to more pain at the pump for American drivers,” said Ragina Cooper Ali, spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, in a statement. “Unfortunately for motorists, AAA expects the upward current trend to persist, as economic indicators continue to point to higher crude oil and gasoline prices for the remainder of winter and into the spring.”

The cost of a gallon of mid-grade gas is $4.59, premium gas is $4.76 and diesel fuel is $4.61 in DC, according to AAA's site.

In Virginia, the average gas price is $4.05 per gallon of regular unleaded gas Monday, up 7 cents from the day before and a 62-cent increase from last week's average, GasBuddy said.

The average price of regular unleaded gas in Virginia is $3.98 per gallon on Monday, AAA said. That's just 3 cents away from the state's record price of $4.01 set on July 17, 2008.

The cost of a gallon of mid-grade gas is $4.29, premium gas is $4.62 and diesel fuel is $4.63 in Virginia, according to AAA's site.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, the price of crude oil continues to soar, leading to record high pump prices, AAA experts said.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas Monday across northern Virginia are:

• Arlington: $4.11
• Alexandria: $4.15
• Fairfax: $4.13
• Loudoun County: $4.05
• Manassas City: $3.99
• Prince William County: $4.10
• Stafford County: $4.03
• Fauquier County: $3.93

Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska all are averaging between $4.39 and $4.69 per gallon. Illinois’ price-per-gallon comes in slightly cheaper than Connecticut ($4.28 per gallon) and New York ($4.26) and experts predict that the state could surpass the $5 per gallon price point by this summer.

The increases mark the largest price hikes since Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, devastating the nation's oil and gas industry, according to CNN.

"This is not the end of it. We're already up another 14 cents on wholesale gas prices this morning," Tom Kloza, a global petroleum analyst, told CNN on Friday. "It's absolutely out of control."

The price of a gallon of gas varies dramatically based on where you live. In California, the average price for a gallon of gas hit a staggering $5.07 on Friday, according to AAA, making it the first state ever to have an average price above $5 a gallon.