As holiday travel ramps up in Michigan, AAA has noted a slight uptick in gas prices, marking a 3-cent increase since last week. Michigan drivers are now facing an average price of $2.85 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel. This figure is 20 cents lower than a report from the same time last year, despite the recent rise. In a wider comparison, today’s state average is slightly cheaper than the national average, which hovers around $2.91 per gallon, reported The Detroit News.
Recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) seems to support a trend of climbing gasoline demand which went up from 8.32 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.45 million b/d. However, gasoline production has decreased, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day. Even so, there appears to be ample supply, with domestic gasoline inventories to increase from 214.4 million barrels to 220.8 million barrels. "Michigan drivers are seeing a small rise in average gas prices, with some cities paying more and others paying less," Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group, told Michigan Business Network.
Diesel drivers aren't facing the same incremental rise, with the national average price for diesel dropping by five cents in the past week to now stand at $3.62 per gallon. These fluctuations aside, AAA forecasts nearly 4 million Michiganders will gear up to travel for the holidays, from December 20 through January 1, with an estimated 3.5 million to take the roads. Fortunately for these travelers, they can expect to save compared to last year's gas prices, which averaged $3.06 during the same holiday period, as per a report from Upper Michigan's Source.
To get the most out of their fuel this holiday season, drivers can take several steps such as combining errands to limit driving time, paying with cash to avoid credit card fees at some stations, and removing any unnecessary weight from their vehicles. Aggressive driving and speeding are also to be avoided as they can significantly lower fuel economy. Michigan drivers should take the opportunity to actively shop around for the best gas prices in their community, with the least expensive gas price averages found in Marquette ($2.66), Traverse City ($2.68), and Flint ($2.77). For added benefits, AAA members may wish to enroll in savings programs like Shell’s Fuel Rewards, where they can "save 30 cents per gallon on their first fill-up and 5 cents per gallon each additional trip to the pump," as outlined by Michigan Business Network.
With the fluctuating nature of gasoline prices, Michigan drivers can keep track of the most current gas price averages through platforms like Gasprices.aaa.com or by using mobile apps like the free AAA Mobile app, which not only helps find gas prices but can also assist with routing, discount finding, hotel booking, and access to AAA roadside assistance.
