Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are three cents higher at $2.744 per gallon this week, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
Most states in the Great Lakes and Central region saw gas prices increase over the week (Kentucky, +2 cents). Gasoline inventories saw a modest drop of nearly 540,000 barrels in the region. Total inventories remain above 53 million, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which is where levels sat this time last year and are higher than in previous years.
This week’s average prices: Western Central KY Average: $2.744
Average price during the week of July 9, 2018: $2.713
Average price during the week of July 17, 2017: $2.131
Average prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$2.776 Bowling Green
$2.622 Elizabethtown
$3.022 Louisville
$2.649 Owensboro
$2.652 Paducah
On the National Front
Since July 4, gas prices have increased three cents, putting today’s national average at $2.88. Since last Monday, the average is just a penny more expensive nationally while some states are seeing nearly a dime jump, including Delaware, Florida and Michigan. Today’s gas price average is just two-cents cheaper than last month, but 63-cents more expensive than at the same time last year.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased 68 cents to settle at $71.01. Concerns surrounding tightening U.S. supplies are slightly elevated following EIA's news that total crude oil stocks recorded the largest decline (12.7 million barrels) since October 2016. Oil prices may continue riding high and contribute to increased pump prices throughout the summer and possibly into the fall, especially if demand remains robust amid high export levels.
The U.S. oil rig count remains unchanged from the previous week, according to Baker Hughes, Inc., keeping the total number of rigs to 863. When compared to last year’s count at this time, there are 98 more rigs.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 80 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For More Information, Contact:
Lynda Lambert, Safety Advisor & Media Spokesperson
Desk: 502-779-3610 / Cell: 502-565-7410 / Email: Lambert.Lynda@aaaec.com
-AAA-