Harvey-related gas prices should drop soon in Arizona
Sep 21, 2017, 12:30 PM
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
PHOENIX — High gas prices in Arizona tied to damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey should drop in the coming days.
“Arizona is running about $2.41 per gallon — $2.37 in the Phoenix area,” Patrick DeHaan, a senior analyst at fuel price tracking site GasBuddy.com, said.
“The price hit its peak on Sept. 14. It shouldn’t be long until we see prices pick up steam to the downside.”
DeHaan said his prediction comes with a caveat, however: That no further hurricanes hit the Gulf region, which is possible until hurricane season ends Nov. 30.
“Almost any storm that enters the Gulf of Mexico could spell trouble for gas prices,” he said. “Any storm that stays out of the Gulf won’t impact gas prices.”
Though Arizona prices jumped, DeHaan said the state was spared drastic hikes because a large amount of Arizona gas comes from California refineries.
Harvey slammed into coastal Texas in late August, causing widespread flooding in the Houston area and knocking nearly 30 percent of the nation’s oil refineries offline.
DeHaan said, weeks later, between 5 and 8 percent of refineries have yet to get back up and running.