
This marks the 16th week of rising fuel prices for Washingtonians in this year alone
Timothy Schumann
The Center Square Washington
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was sitting at $4.60 statewide on Monday in Washington, up from $4.58 the week prior, according to AAA data. This marks the 16th week of rising fuel prices for Washingtonians in this year alone following the implementation of the new carbon tax earlier this year.
This two-cent per gallon increase moved with the national average, albeit at a faster pace, which increased from $3.53 to $3.54 per gallon over the same time period.
“Despite mild weather and a less volatile economic forecast, drivers are not hitting the road and raising gasoline demand to traditional seasonal levels,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross in a statement. “It’s possible this is merely the lull before Memorial Day, but it could be a trend that lingers into summer.”
Residents of the Evergreen State have to dig deeper into their wallets than most. Washington’s pump prices currently stand at fourth most expensive nationally, with only California, Hawaii, and Arizona being more expensive, filling out first to third on the list.
Washington’s $4.60 per gallon places it $1.06 per gallon higher than the national average of $3.54 per gallon. It is also $1.63 per gallon above the nation’s least expensive fuel costs of $2.97 per gallon, currently paid by Mississippi residents.
In Washington, intra-state variance remains high at $1.19 per gallon, up 3 cents per gallon from the week prior. The outliers this week, again San Juan and Asotin counties, represent the most and least expensive gas prices statewide at $5.20 and $4.01 per gallon.
This price variance still largely follows the Cascade Range, with residents to the west paying a higher premium at the pump than residents to the east.
Some state policy experts think there’s a legislative component to the relatively high cost of Washingtonians’ fuel, as previously reported by The Center Square, citing the state’s new cap-and-trade carbon tax program implemented Jan. 1 of this year.
However, the full effect of this program has yet to be seen, as there has only been one carbon auction to date.
With the registration closed for the second auction as of May 1 and all bids due by May 19, we should be seeing the results of the May 31 auction on fuel pricing soon.
Results from this auction are expected to be announced on June 7.
This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.
Also read:
- Citizens have opportunity to provide input on Oregon tollingThe Oregon Department of Transportation will hold two events where citizens can view information about the Regional Mobility Pricing Project.
- Opinion: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program incompetence and deceptionRetired Engineer Bob Ortblad believes a new study of an immersed tunnel by a consultant independent of the IBR must be done.
- Paying more and getting less for transportation in Portland areaTransportation tolling plan sparks outrage as promised freeway lanes disappear, impacting traffic and affordability in the Portland area.
- Washington lawmaker joins bipartisan call for carbon tax overhaul to ease gas painsState Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, is urging legislative action to lower the price at the pump for Washington motorists paying the second-highest gas prices in the nation, including scrapping or modifying the state’s carbon tax.
- Tolling in Oregon still on target to charge for driving former freewaysOregon’s tolling plans face uncertainty as the state indefinitely pauses I-205 projects and grapples with a $3 billion funding gap, impacting commuters between Oregon and Washington.