The national average cost for a gallon of gasoline edged a penny higher Wednesday, ending a 99-day run of decreases.
The average price rose to about $3.68 per gallon, according to AAA, but prices have been in steady decline. Wednesday’s average was lower than the week-ago average of $3.70 per gallon and well below last month’s average of $3.90 per gallon.
The average price in Texas was $3.16, down from $3.17 a week ago and $3.44 last month but up from $2.80 a year ago. In the Fort-Worth-Arlington area, Wednesday’s average price per gallon was $3.196, down from $3.217 a week ago and $3.472 a month ago.
Prices soared above $5 per gallon nationally over the summer, adding to financial pressure on families and creating a potential headache for the Biden administration. While the White House has no role in determining what you pay at the pump, gas prices are always a political issue.
The cost of almost everything has spiked as the global economy emerges from the pandemic, but the price of gasoline is something Americans watched ticking higher daily this year at every corner gas station.
Gasoline prices roughly follow crude and the cost of a gallon peaked in the middle of June as a barrel of crude crossed the $120 barrier. Crude prices have tumbled more than 20% since then and gasoline prices are following along.
There are a number of factors that could keep prices where they are, and potentially send them higher, including the weather.
The hurricane season officially begins in June, but most storms threaten the U.S. from August to October. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the likelihood of increased hurricane activity this year is 65%.