Massachusetts gas prices keep dropping, national average rises for first time in months

Another week, another drop.

Bay State gas prices continue to fall with the average gallon price down 3 cents from last week, as drivers pump their tanks for the busy holiday travel week. Meanwhile, the national average rose for the first time since September.

The average gas price in Massachusetts is now $3.23 a gallon, a drop from the average of $3.26 last week, according to AAA Northeast.

The $3.23 average is 17 cents lower than a month ago ($3.40), and 14 cents lower than last Dec. 26 ($3.37).

“Last week, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline increased for the first time since September — an indication prices are starting to bump against seasonal lows,” said Mark Schieldrop, of AAA Northeast.

“Daily gas prices — both locally and nationwide — could move back and forth for the next month or so,” he added. “Looking back at pre-pandemic 2019, the national average did not make a firm turn to moving higher daily until Valentine’s Day, February 14.”

While the state’s average is down to $3.23 a gallon, Suffolk County’s average is higher as usual at $3.47 a gallon. That compares to $3.04 per gallon in Hampden County and $3.07 per gallon in Franklin County.

The lowest county gas averages in eastern Massachusetts are $3.08 a gallon in Bristol County and $3.14 a gallon in Plymouth County.

Massachusetts’ average price remains 11 cents higher than the national average of $3.12 per gallon.

While the national average recently went up by 4 cents, there’s still hope that the average could fall below $3 a gallon in the weeks to come.

“After 13 straight weeks of decline, average gasoline prices have edged higher due to optimistic comments from the Fed on cutting interest rates in 2024, coupled with Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, boosting concerns of a disruption to global shipping, including oil shipments,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“For now, the price of gasoline has already jumped but could ease slightly this week ahead of the New Year,” he added. “For now, I’m optimistic that we may still have a chance of seeing the first $2.99 national average since 2021 sometime before spring arrives.”

Oil prices have been holding relatively steady in the mid-$70 a barrel range on mixed news. Ongoing tensions in the vital Red Sea shipping corridor caused by militants attacking cargo ships has created upward pressure on oil prices.

Meanwhile, Angola announced it would be leaving OPEC — a sign of the Saudi-led cartel’s waning influence on global oil markets.

According to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 150,000 gas stations across the country, the states with the lowest average prices are: Oklahoma ($2.60), Mississippi ($2.64), and Texas ($2.65).

The states with the highest average prices are: Hawaii ($4.61), California ($4.54), and Washington ($4.07).