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On Tuesday, Connecticut’s average price of $2.86 per gallon is 38 cents higher compared with this time last week, AAA said. Nationally, prices moved up 27 cents to $2.65 compared to this time last week.
AAA’s weekly survey of prices in Connecticut’s four regional areas as follows:
- Greater Bridgeport/Stamford $2.89 per gallon
- New Haven/Meriden $2.83 per gallon
- Greater Hartford $2.85 per gallon
- New London/Norwich $2.89 per gallon
- Statewide Average: $2.86 per gallon
In fact, motorists in 26 states are paying 25 cents to 44 cents more for a gallon of unleaded compared to seven days ago. Every state has seen an increase in gas prices except four — Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii and Utah — where prices remain stable.
As of Tuesday, 74 percent of the U.S. gas stations are selling gas for $2.75 or less, while only 7 percent are selling above $3 a gallon.
Connecticut has moved up to 8th place on the list of states with the most expensive gas prices in the nation after bouncing between 11th and 12th place for most of the summer.
On the plus side, at least eight Texas and Louisiana refineries are restarting or ramping up production after Hurricane Harvey shut down 27 percent of the area’s refining capacity. At least four are operating at reduced rates. Various pipelines, including the Colonial pipeline, a major artery that distributes gas to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, reportedly have resumed operations. By the month’s, prices should begin to stabilize and drop as the country converts to the less-expensive winter blends and demand begins to drop.
But the market continues to be jittery because of the approach of Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm, which is heading for the Caribbean; and ultimately will affect the Southeastern seaboard within the next few days.
As of Tuesday, Arizona eclipsed South Carolina as the state registering the lowest average in the nation at $2.36 per gallon, followed by Oklahoma and Louisiana, both at $2.38. California eclipsed as the state with the highest average at $3.12 per gallon, with Hawaii following at $3.11.
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