Gas prices across west central Kentucky are on the rise this week, even as the national average remains unchanged, according to the latest Gas Price Report from AAA East Central.
Drivers in the region are now paying an average of $2.55 per gallon, about six cents higher than the last seven days.
While prices have increased locally, they still remain well below where they were a year ago, when the regional average stood at $2.72 per gallon.
At present, Trigg County has some of the highest prices in the region, now at $2.71 a gallon — still 11 cents lower than the national average of $2.82.
It’s $2.48 in Christian County, $2.53 in Todd County, $2.49 in Muhlenberg County, $2.47 in Hopkins County, $2.60 in Caldwell County, $2.60 in Crittenden County, $2.67 in Lyon County, $2.56 in Livingston County and $2.51 in Marshall County.
In regional pricing, average gas prices today are about $2.54 in Bowling Green, $2.48 in Elizabethtown, $2.71 in Louisville, $2.40 in Owensboro, and $2.57 in Paducah.
The national average is about 30 cents cheaper than this time last year, when the average was $3.12. AAA notes that gas prices typically stay lower in January due to reduced travel demand and the availability of cheaper winter-blend gasoline.
New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows gasoline demand ticked up slightly last week, rising from 8.17 million to 8.30 million barrels per day. At the same time, domestic gasoline supplies increased by nine million barrels, and production climbed to an average of 9.0 million barrels per day.
Crude oil prices also moved higher, as well. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 87 cents, settling at $62.02 per barrel. The EIA reports U.S. crude oil inventories increased by 3.4 million barrels, though overall stockpiles remain about three percent below the five-year average for this time of year. Markets continue to monitor geopolitical tensions involving Iran, a major oil-producing nation and member of OPEC.
AAA also reports the national average cost to charge an electric vehicle at a public station remains unchanged at 38 cents per kilowatt hour.
