HARTFORD, CT (April 19, 2021) – Despite demand for gas increasing this month to the highest so far this year, gas prices continue to hold steady across the country, including here in Connecticut.

The national gas average for regular unleaded has been holding steady for most of the past two weeks. And, Connecticut drivers haven’t seen much change in the state gas average for the last 15 days, with today’s average at $2.88/gallon.

On the week, 27 state gas averages held steady while another 16 saw pump prices increase or decrease by only one or two cents.

In Connecticut, the average price of gas is now $2.88, unchanged on the week, down two cents since last month and 90 cents higher than last year on this date.

Compared to a year ago, gas prices are sharply higher as mid-April 2020 was prime quarantine time across the country. While Connecticut’s gas price average is 90 cents higher than one year ago, it is on par with averages from April 2019.

“Gasoline stocks have increased in the last month amid lower crude oil prices and, as a result, motorists have benefited from mostly flat gas prices,” said Amy Parmenter, spokesperson for AAA in Greater Hartford.  “However, crude started to see some upward movement this week, which could translate to small increases at the pump by the end of the month.”

Nationwide Gas Prices

Refinery operations are at their fullest capacity since the week of March 23, 2020, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Should this positive utilization trend continue, it could help to offset increases in demand and help the national average stay under $3 per gallon.

Today’s national gas price average is $2.87, up a penny in the last week, down a penny in the last month, and up $1.06 from this time last year.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by 30 cents to settle at $63.13. Although prices ended the day down, due to the market consolidating pricing contracts, the price of crude gained over $3.80 per barrel last week. Continuing market optimism that crude demand may increase more than expected due to increasing vaccine rollouts helped to lift prices.

As usual, the price of gas across CT varies by region:

• Bridgeport - $2.95, up a penny since last week
• Hartford - $2.84, unchanged since last week
• New Haven/Meriden - $2.87, unchanged since last week
• Norwich/New London - $2.92, unchanged since last week

Provide Connecticut drivers with the latest gas prices by adding this link to the front page of your website: GasPrices.AAA.com