Gas prices in California have risen to $5.26 per gallon, an increase of nearly $0.40 in the past month, and could be further impacted by Tropical Storm Hilary, potentially causing refinery shutdowns and further price increases.
Gas prices in the US are nearing $4 a gallon, up 60 cents since the start of the year, which could complicate the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates as it tries to rein in inflation.
The average retail price of regular gasoline in the United States has increased by 6% over the past five weeks, reaching $3.81 per gallon heading into the Labor Day weekend, due to factors such as oil production cuts, low gasoline inventories, and refinery maintenance.
GasBuddy predicts a potential spike in gas prices of 50 cents to $1 per gallon in several states, including Minnesota, due to a possible refinery outage.
Gas prices in Kansas and Missouri are expected to increase by 50 cents to $1 per gallon due to a refinery outage, leading to potential retail price hikes in the region.
The average price of gas in Michigan has fallen by 6 cents to $3.63 a gallon, 10 cents less than last month and 22 cents less than last year, but rising oil prices, higher gas demand, and tighter supply may push prices higher.
Gasoline prices in Las Vegas remain above $4 per gallon, with only one station offering a lower price, due to refinery disruptions and price spikes in the Corn Belt and West Coast regions.
Gasoline prices rose 10.6% in August, contributing to the biggest monthly increase in U.S. consumer prices this year, but the overall inflation outlook remains optimistic as gas prices are expected to fall in the coming months. Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, also increased, but analysts believe it is just a temporary bump and the overall trend is still heading in the right direction.
Gas prices in Los Angeles County have climbed rapidly, with the average price per gallon increasing by nearly 20 cents in just 48 hours due to ongoing refinery issues and unexpected outages.
The average price of gasoline in the United States has risen to $3.881 per gallon, compared to $3.678 per gallon a year ago, due to refinery outages in the western United States.
Gas prices in the US have reached their highest level in 11 months, posing challenges for the Federal Reserve in its campaign to control inflation. Factors contributing to the increase include rising oil prices, production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia, reduced refinery production due to hot weather, and low reserves in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. However, prices are expected to decrease with the switch to a cheaper gasoline blend in the fall and projected global economic slowdown in 2024.
