NOTTINGHAM, MD—For the sixth straight week, the nation’s average gas price has fallen, declining 2.9 cents from a week ago and stands at $3.30 per gallon on Monday according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. The national average is down 11.1 cents from a month ago and $1.09 per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 2.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.585 per gallon.

“For yet another week, average gasoline prices continue to fall as omicron cases surge, leading oil demand, and thus oil prices, to stall. The decline in gas prices will likely continue until new COVID cases slow down,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “With gas prices very likely to continue declining this week in most states, we may see Christmas gas prices fall just under their all-time high on the holiday, which was $3.26 in 2013. Beyond Christmas, with omicron cases likely to continue climbing, I do believe we’ll see a more noticeable hit on gasoline demand once the holidays are over. There’s a rising likelihood that we won’t see gas prices rising for the rest of the year- with one caveat- gas prices in the Great Lakes states have plummeted by 30 to 50 cents in some areas, and stations in those areas may raise prices slightly should oil prices slow their decline. Aside from those areas, declines at the pump are likely to continue as we close out 2021.”

The most common U.S. gas price encountered by motorists stood at $2.99 per gallon, unchanged from last week, followed by $3.09, $3.19, $3.29 and $2.89 rounding out the five most common prices. The average cost at the priciest 10% of stations stands at $4.39 per gallon, down 3 cents from a week ago, while the lowest 10% average $2.74 per gallon, down 2 cents from a week ago. The median U.S. price is $3.17 per gallon, a decline of 2 cents from last week and about 13 cents lower than the national average. The states with the lowest average prices: Oklahoma ($2.86), Texas ($2.87) and Arkansas ($2.91). The states with the highest priced states: California ($4.65), Hawaii ($4.26) and Washington ($3.84).

In the NottinghamMD.com coverage area, the cheapest gas as of Monday could be found at the following locations:

$2.93 per gallon
Sam’s Club
6410 Petrie Way Road
Rosedale, MD 21237

$2.95 per gallon
Costco
9919 Pulaski Highway
Middle River, MD 21220

$2.97 per gallon
BJ’s Wholesale Club
4201 Wholesale Club Drive
Nottingham, MD 21236

Photo by Ingo Joseph from Pexels