Gas prices drop for fourth consecutive week
MOSES LAKE – The national average price of gasoline has fallen for the fourth straight week, according to data from GasBuddy, which tracks prices from more than 12 million reports across over 150,000 gas stations.
As of now, the average stands at $3.02 per gallon, reflecting a decline of 1.3 cents compared to last week. This figure marks a decrease of 10.6 cents from a month ago and is significantly lower — by 42.4 cents — compared to this time last year.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, indicates that concerns over economic conditions and potential tariffs are contributing to the decline in fuel prices.
"As concerns over tariffs and policy uncertainties grow, gas prices have continued to decline across much of the country," he said in a statement from GasBuddy.
De Haan warns, however, that the drop in gas prices may not signal good news for the economy.
“When the economy slows, gasoline demand drops — along with the need for refined products like diesel,” he explained, indicating that lower prices may reflect a decrease in consumer activity rather than an abundance of fuel supply.
In Washington, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline remains higher than the national average. As of the latest reports, gas prices in Washington hover around $4.01 per gallon, placing it among the top five states with the highest prices in the country. California leads with an average of $4.57, followed closely by Hawaii at $4.47.
In Grant County, the cheapest gas can be found in Moses Lake, with the top seven of 10 of the cheapest gas stations in Grant County being located in the city. The prices range from $3.25 to $4.09 in Moses Lake depending on location and fuel grade.
Meanwhile, diesel prices have also decreased, reaching an average of $3.558 per gallon nationally after a 5-cent reduction over the past week. In Washington, diesel prices echo the upward trend, averaging approximately $4.33 per gallon — once again among the highest in the country.