The Week

Just when Maryland drivers thought gas prices couldn’t go any higher….they didn’t. Prices at the pumps across the state are LESS than they were last week. Increased supplies of gasoline along the East coast, along with crude oil prices below $63 this week have helped to keep prices in check.

Maryland’s statewide gas price average Friday is $2.78, which is three cents lower than last week, 9 cents higher than last month and five cents lower than on this date last year. 

Today’s national gas price average is $2.87, which is down two cents in the last week, up 11 cents in the last month, and is two cents more than last year’s price.

CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES 

Regular Unleaded Gasoline

At the close of NYMEX trading Friday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil settled at $61.66 per barrel, 28 cents than last Friday’s close. Crude oil prices hovered between $61 and $63 this week as investors reacted to the potential demand threat posed by trade tensions between China and the U.S. Increased tariffs on Chinese imports, taking effect today, could undercut global economic strength and hurt oil demand, causing a drop in crude prices. On the other hand, traders continue to watch growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which could disrupt crude output and cause oil prices to trend higher. Of late, oil prices have been supported by signs of tighter global supply following production cuts by OPEC and their allies.

The Weekend

“Local drivers are getting some room to breathe at the pump, as prices halt a bit, and even drop slightly in some areas since last week,” says Ragina Cooper Averella, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “With the Memorial Day holiday weekend just three weeks away, all eyes will be on the gas prices to see if they stay below the $3 per gallon benchmark for the unofficial start of summer.”

The Week Ahead

For the 2019 summer driving season, which runs from April through September, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that U.S. regular gasoline retail prices will average $2.92 per gallon (previous estimate was $2.76 per gallon), up from an average of $2.85 per gallon last summer. The higher forecast gasoline prices primarily reflect EIA’s expectation of higher gasoline refining margins this summer, despite slightly lower crude oil prices. The EIA also estimates U.S. oil production will hit a record 12.45 million barrels a day this year and rise again to 13.38 million barrels a day in 2020.

AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel:

• Shell Fuel Rewards Program for AAA Members (AAA.com/Shell) gives AAA members nationwide a discount on gasoline at Shell stations when they join the Fuel Rewards® program.
• Fuel Price Finder(AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.
• Fuel Cost Calculator(FuelCostCalculator.AAA.com) helps budget travel expenses.
• TripTik Mobile(AAA.com/mobile) plots fuel prices along your travel route.
• AAA's Member Rewards Visa® Credit Card(AAA.com/financial/AAAvisa.htm) accumulates double points on fuel purchases.

Next Weekend Gas Watch: Friday, May 17, 2019