Georgia Gas Prices Breach $3 Mark as State's Tax Holiday Ends

Georgia motorists are feeling the pinch at the pump as gas prices soar past the $3 mark, according to recent reports from AAA. The price of regular unleaded gasoline has hit an average of $3.03 a gallon, representing a seven-cent jump from the previous week and one cent more than in December, as FOX 5 Atlanta reported. While these figures are disconcerting, they are still notably lower by 37 cents compared to 2023.

The increase comes as Georgia's gas tax holiday, which had kept prices notably low, came to a close; drivers are now facing an approximately 30-cent hike per gallon, as noted by News4Jax, after enjoying some of the lowest gas prices in the country with the tax suspended. With the tax back in play, Georgians must now shell out an average of $45.30 to fill a 15-gallon tank, which, despite being an uptick, still lands them nearly $6 in savings compared to the steeper prices of a year ago.

The resumption of Georgia's gas tax by Governor Brian Kemp marks the end of the state's attempt to provide financial relief to motorists. Gas tax suspension, a bipartisan move, initially took effect in March 2022 and later extended through May, a suspension that cost the state an estimated $300-$400 million in lost revenue. Consumers saved around 30 cents per gallon on gas and 33 cents on diesel during the suspension period; with the tax now back in place, these savings have evaporated.

Despite the statewide average pushing past $3, drivers will find that pump prices can still vary considerably across Georgia, AAA highlighted specific areas, noting that the most costly locations to gas up include Savannah at $3.12, Brunswick at $3.09, and Hinesville-Fort Stewart region at $3.05, conversely the least expensive areas are Rome at $2.94, Dalton at $2.91, and the Catoosa-Dade-Walker area with prices as low as $2.84, suggesting a strategic choice in refueling locations could offer some relief from the price spike this variation further implies that not all stations have yet reflected the full 30-cent increase attributable to the gas tax's return.

AAA spokeswoman Montrae Waiters pointed to the nuances influencing fuel costs, stating, "Although gas demand has declined, crude oil prices have increased, pushing gas prices higher. If oil prices drop in the week ahead, this recent price bounce may fade." as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.