Arizona experiencing high gas prices compared to national average
Dec 30, 2018, 1:06 PM
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
PHOENIX — Gas prices continue to fall throughout the country, but the state average price per gallon is still nearly 40 cents higher than the national average.
While the average price per gallon in the U.S. is $2.27, in Arizona the average is expected to end the year at $2.65.
“Arizona is one of the few places that boasts quite a bit higher prices than last year,” Patrick De Haan with Gas Buddy, a gas price comparison website, told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “A year ago the average prices in the state were $2.41.”
Prices in Arizona have been moving down from the high price of the year during the summer, which was $3.11 per gallon.
They are expected to move down more by the end of the year, but not as much as Arizonans are used to.
“Statewide we are looking at a decrease of probably eight cents a gallon,” De Haan said. “2018 is closing out as the overall most expensive (year) since 2014.”
De Haan said that Arizona is in a unique position this year as the state typically enjoys lower gas prices than the national average.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.
