Drivers in Michigan have been digging deeper into their wallets this week, with fuel prices on the climb, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is up to $3.27, a 12 cents increase from just a week ago, as reported by The Detroit News. This figure not only shows a significant rise since last month by 16 cents but it also sits 32 cents lower than the heap prices observed around the same time in 2024.
While this recent hike may pinch the consumer, it translates to an average of $49 to fill up a standard 15-gallon fuel tank, which is still $8 shy of July's peak pricing the previous year, thus offering a mild respite in comparison, as mentioned by CBS Detroit. In the greater Metro Detroit area, the effects of these price movements are seen in a 5-cent increase per gallon over the past week, firmly anchoring the average at $3.25 per gallon, as per a report by WXYZ.
As motorists navigate the fluctuations at the pump, the contrast in gas prices across the state remains stark; Saginaw, Traverse City, and Lansing are currently home to the most expensive averages, ascending as high as $3.33 per gallon. On the flip side, Marquette presents a more economical option with the lowest observed average at $3.06, with Benton Harbor and Metro Detroit trailing closely, as WXYZ and CBS Detroit corroborate, respectively.
Petroleum industry analysts, like Patrick De Haan from GasBuddy, are also weighing in on the situation, highlighting that "with oil prices posting a modest uptick last week, the national average price of gasoline also inched slightly higher, with just over half of U.S. states seeing increases, while nearly two dozen saw declines," as noted by The Detroit News. De Haan also noted that the current trends suggest that national averages may hover around the low-$3 per gallon range through much of the summer barring major market shifts.
Howard Hughey, a spokesperson for AAA, underscored the price sensitivity in his comments to The Detroit News, stating, "Michigan drivers are seeing higher prices at the pump this week," and added, "If demand continues to increase, gas prices may rise further."
