Tennesseans are digging deeper into their wallets this week as gas prices continue their climb along with the national trend. Across the state, drivers are paying an average of $3.07 per gallon, with Clarksville motorists seeing some of the steepest prices at $3.13 per gallon. This marks a week-over-week increase of seven cents, according to data compiled by AAA and reported by Clarksville Online.
Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, explained this seasonal surge, stating, “Strong gasoline demand and the yearly switch from winter blend to summer blend gasoline is helping contribute to a rise in pump prices – which is what we typically expect to see this time of year. Even with our weekly jump at the pump, Tennessee now has the 6th least expensive state gas price average in the country,” Despite experiencing a brief spike to $3.09, Clarksville's prices dropped slightly over the weekend to the current average.
Factors beyond seasonal changes are at play, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the forthcoming transition to summer fuel blends putting upward pressure on prices. The situation is exacerbated in the Rocky Mountain region where refineries are running at reduced capacity, potentially leading to further increases that could ripple out to states like Colorado and Wyoming.
Nationally, even as the average gas price sees a rise, it still sits below the figures from the same period last year. The utilization of refineries which typically drops during the cold weather, contributed to lower production this winter but is now rebounding - as reported by GasBuddy and presented by Clarksville Now. Such fluctuations in refinery output can have a direct impact on the cost of gas.
The price at the pump contrasts sharply when considering the range of national gas prices. Metros on the West Coast, alongside cities in Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, boast the highest prices, with some areas like Lihue, HI, topping $5 per gallon. Meanwhile, the lowest prices can be found in places like San Antonio, TX, where gas hovers around $2.84.
Despite Tennessee's recent spikes, the state currently holds the title for the 6th least expensive gas price average in the country.
