Motorists in Michigan are feeling a pinch at the pump as gas prices inch higher, now sitting at an average of $3 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. This figure represents a 4-cent increase from just a week ago, The Detroit News reports. Despite the week's increase, prices remain 40 cents lower than during the same period last year. Drivers now spend an average of $45 to fill up a standard 15-gallon tank, down $13 from the peak prices experienced in August 2023.
"Michigan motorists are seeing slightly higher gas prices compared to last week," Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group, explained in a statement published by multiple sources. Amid the fluctuation of global oil prices and regional demand, experts from AAA have indicated that the upward trend may persist. "If oil prices continue to face upward pressure, drivers may see pump prices continue to rise," Woodland added. Although metro Detroit has maintained a steady average of $2.99 per gallon, this figure is marginally lower than some of the most expensive averages in the state, like those in Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Saginaw, which have reached $3.03.
WILX News 10 notes that Lansing, in particular, saw a considerable weekly jump of 9.8 cents per gallon. The price for a gallon of gas in the city averages out at $3.02. While variance within the city is notable, with the cheapest station offering gas at $2.84 and the priciest hitting $3.26, the state's least expensive gas averages are found in Marquette at $2.88 per gallon.
The recent surge is attributed in part to a mix of higher gas demand and the unpredictability of oil prices as reported by the WXYZ. Furthermore, national trends reflect a slight increase with GasBuddy citing an average price of $3.12 per gallon across the U.S., a notch above that of Michigan's average. While many factors contribute to these shifts at the gas stations, an intricate web of domestic and international events continues to shape energy markets and consumer prices alike.
