Utah is one of only 12 states in the nation where the average price of gasoline is still above $2 a gallon — but the AAA travel services company predicts it will fall below that here this week.
It also says that Sevier County is a wildly inexpensive exception to those relatively high gas prices in Utah. The average price there on Monday was a mere $1.30 a gallon, a third cheaper than most other places in the state.
AAA reported on Monday that the average price per gallon of regular gasoline in Utah is now $2.048 — compared to a national average of $1.774.
Last week in Utah, the average was $2.111. Last month, it was $2.381. And this time last year, it was $2.941.
The highest price ever recorded in Utah was $4.222 a gallon in July 2008.
Some good news, however, is that Utah’s 7 cents a gallon drop during the past week tied for the third largest in the nation. The only places where it dropped more were Alaska (9 cents) and Idaho (8 cents).
“With the latest declines, Utah’s average is poised to fall below the $2/gallon mark this week,” AAA said on Monday.
AAA reported that the states with the nation’s least expensive gasoline prices now are Wisconsin ($1.19), Oklahoma ($1.36) and Ohio ($1.38).
"AAA forecasts that the national average will continue to decrease into next month, possibly dropping as low as $1.65,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “We haven’t seen gas prices that cheap since January 2009.”
That comes after a volatile week when crude oil prices actually temporarily went below zero for the first time in history. Amid shutdowns and an economic collapse from the coronavirus, the Energy Information Administration reported demand at 5.3 million barrels a day, compared to last April’s average of 9.45 million barrels a day.
Prices around Utah vary greatly, according to the latest AAA report. Next-lowest averages after Sevier County were in Juab, $1.91; Utah, $1.93; and Kane, $1.96. The highest prices in Utah were in Beaver and Garfield at $2.32, and San Juan and Piute at $2.25 a gallon.
The averages in other Wasatch Front counties were $2.06 in Salt Lake, $2.08 in Davis and $2.10 in Weber.
