Gas prices on the rise: A look at national and WA trends

MOSES LAKE — As of Monday, the average price of gasoline in the United States has observed a notable increase, rising 6.3 cents from the previous week to settle at $3.08 per gallon, according to data from the website GasBuddy, which tracks prices from more than 12 million reports across 150,000-plus gas stations.  

This marks the first price rise in over a month, reflecting seasonal shifts in fuel demand and changes in gasoline formulations. Meanwhile, Washington state continues to experience significantly higher fuel costs than the nation at large, with an average of $4.04 per gallon, a slight uptick from last week's $4.01. 

The national average still represents a decline of 1.6 cents compared to one month prior and a substantial decrease of 42.5 cents from the same time last year.  

Conversely, Washington's gas prices have fluctuated noticeably in recent weeks, reflecting region-specific factors that contribute to ongoing price disparities. The state saw its peak gas prices in mid-February when prices soared to $4.33 per gallon. Since then, prices have dipped slightly but continue to remain above the national average. 

Diesel prices are also experiencing their own trends. The national average for diesel stands at $3.549 per gallon, reflecting a modest decrease of 0.9 cents from the previous week. In Washington, however, the diesel prices remain elevated, at an average of $4.33.  

The increase in gasoline prices at the national level can be attributed to the final stages of the transition to summer gasoline, a seasonal shift that occurs around this time each year, according to GasBuddy. This transition often leads to short-term price hikes as demand begins to peak during the spring and summer months, coinciding with increased travel and tourism.