Northern Virginia, DC Gas Prices Down From One Week Ago

WASHINGTON, DC — 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 national 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. Virginia and Washington, D.C., drivers are paying on average 2 cents a gallon less, while Maryland drivers are paying on average 4 cents a gallon less; the average price is $2.57 per gallon in the DC metro.

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.

Washington, D.C., gas averages $2.77 a gallon, the agency said, which is a drop of 2 cents from a week ago; in the DC metro the average price at the pump is $2.57 a gallon, also a decline of 2 cents from last week. Prices range from $2.39 a gallon in Alexandria, to $2.43 in McLean, and $2.32 a gallon in Fredericksburg, according to GasBuddy.com.

“Drivers may finally start to see what they’ve been waiting for since January – a drop in pump prices,” said John Townsend, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Albeit slight and potentially short-lived, the recent halt in gas price increases is a welcome break for motorists before refinery maintenance season comes into play, which typically increases prices at the pump.”

Strong demand coupled with steadily rising oil prices means filling up will continue to cost consumers more this month, he said. In fact, the last time the national gas price average was this high, but under $3/gallon in February was in 2010.

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.

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