Gas prices continued to climb earlier this week, reaching $3.27 per gallon on Tuesday in the 'Macon area,' according to a survey from gasbuddy. com That compares to $2.74 per gallon on March 1 and $2.61 per gallon on Feb. 22.
AAA, meanwhile, placed the 'current average' of regular unleaded gas in the Macon area at $3.29 per gallon on Tuesday, which compares to $2.98 one week ago and $2.72 one month ago.
Opinions about gas prices are like sphincters, and everybody has one. Regardless, AAA made reference to 'the conflict in the Middle East' in its most recent press release, pointing out that 'the last time the national average made a similar weekly jump was back in March of 2022 during the start of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.' However, AAA also noted that 'springtime typically sees higher gas prices as gasoline demand rises and summer-blend gasoline production begins.'
Gasbuddy’s analysis focused more broadly on the conflict in the Middle East.
“In just a week, consumers have seen gasoline prices surge at one of the fastest rates in years after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With additional attacks across the Middle East over the weekend pushing oil above $100 per barrel for the first time in years, fuel markets are now rapidly recalibrating to the risk of prolonged disruption to global supply flows. As a result, gasoline prices in many states could climb another 20 to 50 cents per gallon this week, with price-cycling markets potentially seeing increases as early as today.
De Haan added that the price increase for diesel fuel is perhaps most notable.
'The median U.S. diesel price is $4.59 per gallon, up 91 cents from last week,' he said. 'Diesel prices at the top 10% of stations in the country average $5.32 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average $3.76 per gallon.