Only a matter of time until Arizona gas prices average $4 a gallon, analyst says

PHOENIX — It’s only a matter of months before most Arizona drivers are paying $4 a gallon for gas, according to an oil industry expert.

Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy told KTAR News 92.3 FM the average fill-up could reach the $4 mark as early as April.

Arizona and Phoenix drivers are already paying about 30 cents more per gallon than the national average, which is hovering around $3.30.

“The risk is that Arizona and Phoenix will probably be ahead of the national average, which we expect could hit $4 by Memorial Day,” De Haan said.

De Haan believes the state could be in jeopardy of breaking the record for average price for a gallon of gas of $4.07 set in 2008.

The pandemic continues to have an effect, but it’s not the only factor pumping up the prices, according to De Haan.

A combination of supply chain issues in California and conflicts in oil-producing countries, including in Russian, Kazakhstan and Libya, isn’t helping, De Haan said.

“The entire west coast is generally very tight,” De Haan said. “They import gasoline and they don’t export it. They simply don’t have enough supply.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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