Gas prices much higher than last year for Arizonans hitting road for Fourth
Jul 2, 2018, 10:20 AM | Updated: 9:16 pm
PHOENIX — With thousands of Arizonans ready to roll out of town for the Fourth of July holiday, gas prices are much more expensive than last year at this time — and it could get worse.
“Oil prices have jumped about $9 a barrel in the last 10 days, so we might see prices start to inch up just as motorists are taking to the road for the holiday weekend, or the holiday week,” Patrick DeHaan of Gas Buddy said Monday.
The Arizona average was $3.00 per gallon.
“The statewide average is 64 cents higher than last year,” DeHaan said.
It was $3.07 in Phoenix, about 85 cents higher than last year.
“This is the priciest July Fourth at the pumps since 2014, and the second half of the summer is not shaping up to be terrific for motorists,” he said.
The national average last week was $2.85.
The whole West was a hotbed for high gas prices with refinery issues affecting Utah and Idaho. California led the nation with a $3.65 average.
“Even after July Fourth has come and gone, I do expect prices to start increasing again,” DeHaan said.
