National Gas Price at $3.61

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline held fairly steady during the last week, holding at $3.611 per gallon this morning, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS). That is an increase of less than a penny since April 28. The slowed pace is a welcome relief to motorists who have watched the national average price jump 11 cents since April 21 and 34 cents since mid-March.

California currently has the highest regular gasoline price at $3.919 per gallon, just ahead of Alaska at $3.916. Some California consumers in the areas around Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and San Francisco already are paying in excess of $4 per gallon for regular unleaded, according to AAA/OPIS data. Alaska’s average price soared 20 cents since April 21.

Two weeks ago, eight states had price averages of $3.60 or higher. Today, 19 states and the District of Columbia are above $3.60, with nine exceeding $3.70.

The lowest state price average belongs to Wyoming at $3.436 per gallon. Two weeks ago, 10 states still had average prices below $3.40. As of this morning, 11 states had price averages below $3.50 per gallon.

The national average price for diesel fuel held steady during the same two-week period, increasing just 3.9 cents since April 21. The average diesel price of $4.239 reported this morning by AAA is down from $4.243 a week ago.