After weeks of falling prices, gas prices increased slightly on Wednesday. The national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose to $3.215, according to AAA . This was more than Tuesday’s average price of $3.203 per gallon.
Wednesday’s increase was the first in weeks across the country. Prices had been steadily falling across the country, leading to much-needed relief at the pumps for the country’s drivers. Despite the current increase, gas prices are still less expensive than a week ago, when it cost $3.253 for a gallon of regular gas. The same holds for gas prices from a month ago, when the average price of regular gas was $3.414 per gallon.
Before Wednesday’s increase, the drop in gas prices throughout the country resulted in 16 states having an average price under $3 per gallon for regular gas: Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. This number increased to 17 states on Monday, but Ohio was removed from this list when its prices increased to $3.018 per gallon on Wednesday.
Gas prices remain a vital topic heading into the 2024 presidential election . A recent commercial by former President Donald Trump focused on high gas prices throughout the country. With President Joe Biden deciding not to seek reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris , now the Democratic presidential nominee, has to indicate how she will address the country’s gas prices and energy costs and how both affect the economy and people’s finances.
Despite the recent trend of decreases, gas prices have fluctuated throughout the year and vary significantly among states. Overall, gas prices remain higher than when Trump was in office.
Click here to see the cost of gas in different states throughout the country. Read below to see the prices for a gallon of regular-grade gas in Washington, D.C., and the Delmarva region.
Washington, D.C.
Unlike today's national average gas price increase, the cost for a gallon of regular gas in the nation's capital decreased on Wednesday, continuing a weekslong trend. It now costs $3.397 per gallon for regular gas. This is a drop from Tuesday's price of $3.408 per gallon. Additionally, Wednesday's price is less expensive than a week ago, when it cost $3.51 for a gallon of regular gas, and a month ago, when the price for a gallon of regular gas $3.668.
Virginia
Gas prices in Virginia continued to fall on Wednesday as a gallon of regular gas now costs $3.025 in the state. This was a decrease from yesterday when the price of regular gas was $3.036 per gallon. Wednesday's prices are also less expensive than last week, when regular gas was $3.103 per gallon, and a month ago, when a gallon of regular gas cost $3.294.
Maryland
Maryland's gas prices increased on Wednesday, marking the first time it has done so in weeks. A gallon of regular gas in the state now costs $3.082. This was more expensive than Tuesday, when gas cost $3.079 per gallon. Despite the increase, however, regular gas is still cheaper than a week ago, when it was $3.138 per gallon. It's also less expensive than a month ago when a gallon of regular gas in Maryland was $3.378.
Delaware
Prices are also on the rise in Delaware on Wednesday, with a gallon of regular gas costing $2.983. This was a very slight increase from yesterday when regular gas was $2.981 per gallon. Despite Wednesday's rise in cost, gas prices are still less expensive than a week ago, when regular gas was $3.05 per gallon. Costs are also cheaper than from a month ago, when regular gas was $3.296 per gallon.
California
California remains the state with the most expensive gas in the country, with the average price for a gallon of regular gas at $4.778. Unlike Wednesday's increase in the national average for a gallon of regular gas, prices in the Golden State decreased. Yesterday, a gallon of regular gas in California was $4.78. A week ago, a gallon of regular gas cost $4.749 in the state. Gas is also more expensive than a month ago, when it was $4.598 in the Golden State.
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Mississippi
Mississippi is the state with the least expensive gas prices. A gallon of regular gas in the state cost $2.728 on Wednesday. This was a decrease from Tuesday, when the price was $2.732 for a gallon of regular gas. Prices are also less expensive than a week ago when regular gas was $2.768 per gallon and a month ago when it cost $2.958 for a gallon of regular gas in Mississippi .