Fuel costs slightly down from last week

MOSES LAKE – Washington state, Grant County and Adams County all saw decreases in average prices for regular fuel this week. However, the national average for fuel saw a slight increase, according to AAA.  

“The national average saw a slight rise over the last week, as gas prices surged in parts of the Midwest after a refinery fire pushed wholesale gasoline prices sharply higher in the region,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. 

This is the third week in a row prices have decreased in Grant County from $4.51 on Oct. 13 to $4.47 on Oct. 20 to the current average price of $4.40. As of a month ago, Sept. 29, average fuel prices were sitting at $4.57, or 17 cents more expensive than now.  

Adams County has been following a similar trend, with prices decreasing for four weeks in a row. On Oct. 6 prices were sitting at $4.45. Then, on Oct. 13, average prices were $4.37. Prices continued to decrease Oct. 20, with the average sitting at $4.20. As of Oct. 27, prices have dropped another 23 cents, with average fuel prices sitting at $3.97. As of a month ago, Sept. 29, prices were sitting at $4.43, which means in October, the county saw a decrease of nearly 46 cents in its average fuel prices.  

Grant and Adams counties have traditionally had similar prices to one another; however, this week, there is a 43-cent difference between the two counties, with Adams County being a cheaper location to purchase gasoline.  

Grant and Adams counties remain in the middle of the pack for fuel prices in the state. San Juan County is the most expensive at $5.41 and Asotin County is the least expensive at $3.75. This means there is a range of around $1.66 from the least expensive fuel averages in the state.  

Washington’s average fuel prices are sitting at $4.35 as of Monday. This is the seventh week in a row where the state average fuel price has dropped. On Sept. 15, the average gasoline price was at $4.66. The state, in the following weeks, dropped to $4.62, then $4.56, then $4.52. On Oct. 13, average fuel prices were sitting at $4.48 and then they dropped again to $4.42 on Oct. 20.  

However, as of a year ago, average prices were cheaper in the state when fuel was $4.05, or 30 cents cheaper than now.  

Washington remains the third most expensive state to purchase fuel in. Only California at $4.60 and Hawaii at $4.48 have higher average fuel prices in the nation.  

Nationally, prices saw a slight increase in fuel prices, sitting at an average of $3.05. This is a three-cent increase from last week's prices. As of a month ago, prices were sitting at $3.14 or nine cents more expensive than now. As of a year ago, prices were sitting at $3.13, or eight cents more expensive than now.