LEXINGTON, Ky. — The national average for a gallon of gas dipped a mere two cents since last week to $3.22. Gas prices had been falling by more than twice as much recently, but the arrival of Hurricane Francine to the Gulf Coast created some temporary issues for nearby oil production and refining.
“Gasoline prices have been plunging in many areas, but as we get further into September, it is not uncommon to see them take a bit of a breather during hurricane season,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins, of AAA Bluegrass. “Gasoline demand and oil costs are low, so pump prices may soon resume a slow descent. There are 14 states with averages below $3 a gallon, and despite some slowing down of the descent, several more states are likely to see their averages drop below that mark soon.”
The national average cost for public EV charging, however, held steady. With an estimated 1.2 million AAA members living in households with one or more electric vehicles, AAA tracks the average kilowatt-per-hour cost for all levels of public charging by state. Today’s national average for a kilowatt of electricity at a public charging station is 35 cents.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly last week from 8.47 million b/d to 8.77. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks remained flat at 221.6 million barrels, while gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.
“Lackluster gasoline demand and oil costs will likely keep pump prices sliding,” Weaver Hawkins adds.
Today’s national gas price average of $3.22 is 2 cents lower than one week ago, 19 cents lower than a month ago and now 66 cents less than a year ago.
Today’s average in Kentucky is up a couple of pennies overnight to $2.88, which is 1 cent higher than one week ago, 29 cents lower than a month ago and 63 cents less than a year ago. Despite recent increases, Kentucky remains10th lowest average gas price in the country.
The average gas price in Lexington dropped back down a couple of pennies overnight, now at $2.92. Lexington’s current gas price is just 4 cents lower than one week ago and 26 cents lower than a month ago. Today’s price is 54 cents lower than a year ago.
Around the commonwealth, the highest county-level average gas price can be found in Lee County at $3.17. The cheapest county-wide average price of gasoline in the commonwealth can again be found in Simpson County at $2.57.
Gas prices around the region
Checking elsewhere, the average price for a gallon of regular today in Ohio is at $3.11, West Virginia $3.08, Virginia $3.00, Indiana $3.20, Tennessee $2.78, Illinois $3.47 and Missouri $287. Missouri and Tennessee remains the only states bordering Kentucky with a lower gas price average.
The highest gasoline average price in the country is California at $4.75, while Mississippi has the lowest average gas price, now at $2.71.
Quick Stats
Since last Friday, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their gas price averages: Ohio (+15 cents), Washington, D.C. (-10 cents), Michigan +10 cents), Maine (-8 cents), New Hampshire (-8 cents), New Mexico (-8 cents), Virginia (-7 cents), Connecticut (-7 cents), Utah (-7 cents) and Rhode Island (-6 cents).
The nation’s 10 least expensive gas markets are Mississippi ($2.71), Oklahoma ($2.76), Tennessee ($2.78), Alabama ($2.78), Texas ($2.79), South Carolina ($2.79), Louisiana ($2.80), Arkansas ($2.82), Missouri ($2.87) and Kentucky ($2.88).
GAS PRICES FROM AAA – September 20, 2024
Average price per gallon of self-serve, regular gasoline
Gas prices provided by AAA, http://gasprices.aaa.com/
| Today | Change Since Yesterday | Last Week | Last Month | Last Year | |
| National | $3.22 |
No Change |
$3.23 | $3.40 | $3.87 |
| Kentucky | $2.88 |
No Change |
$2.85 | $3.15 | $3.50 |
| Lexington | $2.92 |
-0.02 |
$2.88 | $3.18 | $3.54 |
| Covington | $3.07 |
+0.02 |
$2.92 | $3.27 | $3.58 |
| Ashland | $2.94 |
-0.03 |
$2.99 | $3.25 | $3.54 |
More Kentucky business news here.
