National Average Sees First Rise in a Month as Summer Switch Stings

The nation’s average price of gasoline has risen for the first time in over a month, increasing 6.3 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.08 per gallon, according to GasBuddy® data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. The national average is down 1.6 cents from a month ago and is 42.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 0.9 cents in the last week and stands at $3.549 per gallon.

“For the first time in over a month, the national average price of gasoline has risen, driven by the final step in the transition to summer gasoline across wide portions of the country,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “This increase has nothing to do with politics or tariffs — which remain paused for now — but is instead the result of seasonality, and is something that happens almost every year. Concerns over refinery maintenance have been muted so far this year, largely due to broader concerns about the U.S. economy, and demand remains soft. However, for those in the Northeastern U.S. who have enjoyed relatively low gas prices compared to the national average, the final step in the transition to summer gasoline is still a few weeks away. Once it occurs, they too will likely see prices rise. For areas that have already completed the switch, ongoing economic uncertainty will likely prevent further major increases — for now.”

OIL PRICES

Crude oil prices remained stuck in the mid-to-upper $60s as a multitude of headlines continues the tug-of-war keeping oil below $70/bbl. Fresh sanctions on Iran from the U.S. but new talks to end Russia’s war on Ukraine offset, as well as tariffs that could be scaled back on April 2, but also OPEC+ restoring production in April are keeping oil prices somewhat rangebound. In early Monday trade, WTI crude oil was last up 34 cents to $68.62 per barrel, slightly higher than last Monday’s $68.07 per barrel start. Brent crude oil was also up, rising 35 cents in early trade to $72.51 per barrel, also slightly higher than last week’s $71.46 per barrel start.

OIL AND REFINED PRODUCTS

The EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending March 14, 2025, showed a 1.7 million barrel rise in U.S. crude oil inventories, which are about 5% below the five-year seasonal average, while gasoline inventories fell 500,000 barrels and stand 2% below the seasonal average. Distillate fuel inventories fell 2.8 million barrels last week to 6% below the five-year seasonal average, while refinery utilization rose 0.4 percentage points to 86.9% of capacity. Implied gasoline demand, EIA’s proxy for retail demand, fell 365,000bpd to 8.817 million. Total U.S. petroleum inventories stand at 11 million barrels below last year (0.9%) excluding the SPR.

GAS PRICE TRENDS

The most common U.S. gas price encountered by motorists stood at $2.99 per gallon, unchanged from last week, followed by $2.89, $2.79, $3.09, and $3.19 rounding out the top five most common prices.

The median U.S. gas price is $2.96 per gallon, up 7 cents from last week and about 12 cents lower than the national average.

The top 10% of stations in the country average $4.35 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average $2.54 per gallon.

The states with the lowest average prices: Oklahoma ($2.62), Mississippi ($2.63), Tennessee ($2.66).

The states with the highest average prices: California ($4.56), Hawaii ($4.45), and Washington ($4.04).

Biggest weekly changes: Indiana (+24.5¢), Ohio (+19.1¢), Wisconsin (+19.1¢), Illinois (+16.8¢), Minnesota (+15.7¢)

DIESEL PRICE TRENDS

The most common U.S. diesel price stood at $3.59 per gallon, 10 cents lower than last week, followed by $3.49, $3.29, $3.39, and $3.19, rounding out the top five most common prices.

The median U.S. diesel price is $3.45 per gallon, down 4 cents from last week and about 10 cents lower than the national average.

Diesel prices at the top 10% of stations in the country average $4.48 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average $2.94 per gallon.

The states with the lowest average diesel prices: Oklahoma ($3.10), Texas ($3.12), and Mississippi ($3.19).

The states with the highest average diesel prices: Hawaii ($5.24), California ($4.94), and Washington ($4.33).

Biggest weekly changes: Florida (-9.2¢), Alaska (+7.3¢), West Virginia (-5.6¢), Nebraska (+5.4¢), Idaho (+5.0¢).