Area’s average gas prices up while national price dips
The average retail price of gasoline in the Tacoma area has risen 7.2 cents per gallon over the past week, and now averages $2.50 per gallon.
The price monitoring service GasBuddy.com reported Monday that while local prices have risen, the national average has fallen 0.8 cents per gallon over the past week and now stands at $2.21 per gallon.
Prices recorded Sunday in the Tacoma area were 56.3 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago, and are 20.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.
According to the website tacomagasprices.com, Monday’s lowest price in Pierce County, $2.19 per gallon, could be found both at a 76 station in Gig Harbor and a Pacific Pride outlet on Pacific Highway Southwest in Lakewood.
Washingtongasprices.com showed the lowest price Monday in the Olympia area at the Arco station at Martin Way East and Ranger Drive Southeast, at $2.29 a gallon.
“In 2015 we saw the national average peak in June and the year before it peaked in April, so while the current plateau may seem encouraging for motorists, we still expect rising consumer demand to elevate gasoline prices as we approach the beginning of the summer driving season,” said Gregg Laskoski, GasBuddy senior analyst, in a release.
C.R. Roberts: 253-597-8535
This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Area’s average gas prices up while national price dips."