Gas prices in Massachusetts start going up for first time in months

The monthslong slide in gasoline costs has come to an finish, as Bay State drivers begin to discover pump costs going up at their neighborhood gasoline station.

Fuel costs in Massachusetts ticked up 7 cents on common over the past week, which is the primary time costs have elevated in a number of weeks. The common price for an everyday gallon of gasoline is now $3.56, in line with AAA Northeast on Monday.

After mid-June — when gasoline costs hit a report excessive of $5.04 a gallon — the typical worth within the Bay State dropped by greater than $1.50 a gallon over a four-month stretch. However now pump costs are beginning to rise once more.

“That nice run we had has come to an finish,” AAA Northeast’s Mark Schieldrop stated of the reducing gasoline costs. “We’ll see if we hover the place we’re at, and hopefully we don’t see any main will increase.

“I see us in this type of plateau part, the place we don’t see costs falling very a lot,” he added. “We received’t see costs like in the summertime round $5, however we may see wherever between a 25-cent to 40-cent vary the place we may bounce up and down.”

Costs within the final week have began going up as a result of home oil inventories are low and OPEC introduced that it’s slashing oil manufacturing by 2 million barrels a day. Additionally, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has introduced uncertainty to the oil market.

Oil costs at the moment are at their highest stage in 5 weeks.

“However the considerations in regards to the economic system, and the feds mountain climbing rates of interest, ought to assist hold a lid on oil costs in the meanwhile,” Schieldrop stated.

The nation’s common gasoline worth has climbed to $3.91 per gallon — 35 cents larger than the $3.56 common in Massachusetts. The nationwide common is being skewed by very excessive costs on the West Coast, together with a whopping $6.33 per gallon in California.

“Right here on the East Coast, we’re significantly better in terms of inventories, so we’re in respectable form however we’re nonetheless at historic lows,” Schieldrop stated.

The most affordable gasoline within the Bay State is now in Bristol County, the place the typical for an everyday gallon is $3.42. The second most cost-effective gasoline county is now Franklin County, coming in at $3.45 a gallon.

Suffolk County’s common is now $3.72 a gallon, whereas Middlesex County’s common is $3.63 per gallon and Norfolk County’s common is $3.61 a gallon. Neighboring Plymouth County’s common is decrease at $3.49 per gallon.