The cost of oil has remained in the low $50 range and the national average gasoline price is dropping. But the pump prices have remained stable at locations across Utah.
According to the latest report from AAA Utah, the average statewide price for regular self-serve gasoline registers at $2.28 a gallon.
The average price reported statewide last month registered 16 cents higher than the costs for gasoline witnessed by motorists stopping to refuel as self-serve pumps at locations throughout Utah one year ago.
By comparison, the average pump price in Carbon County registers at $2.32. Motorists are paying an average of $2.23 per gallon nationwide.
“The drop in oil prices in the past few weeks from above $60 to the low $50 range has helped push down the cost of gasoline,” pointed out Rolayne Fairclough, spokeswoman for AAA Utah.
“In addition, oil and gasoline inventories have been growing for months. The relatively warm winter temperatures across the East Coast and Europe, combined with a light hurricane season in 2006, have given the oil industry time to stock up supplies,” added Fairclough.
The majority of the Intermountain West states posted falling gasoline prices last month, according to AAA Utah’s latest fuel gauge report.
Idaho’s average price dipped 7 cents to register at $2.31 per gallon. Montana’s price dropped 15 cents to $2.19 per gallon. Wyoming’s price registered at $2.19 for a 7 cent decrease.
Colorado’s motorists experienced a 4 cent decrease and paid an average of $2.17 per gallon for regular self-serve gasoline.
Arizona’s price dropped 2 cents to $2.31, while Nevada’s cost climbed 1 cent to $2.56 per gallon.
California’s price for gasoline increased 4 cents to average $2.61 per gallon.
Prices generally dropped at the regular self-serve gas pumps in the cities surveyed by AAA Utah.
Salt Lake City’s average price remained constant at $2.21 per gallon. Logan saw prices decrease by 2 cents to $2.27 per gallon.
Vernal’s pump price dropped 2 cents to average $2.37 per gallon. Ogden’s average price dipped 1 cent to $2.24. St. George’s price decreased 5 cents to $2.32.
Moab’s price dropped 17 cents to average $2.28 per gallon, while the cost at Provo’s pumps increased 1 cent to $2.22.
“If the price of oil stays near $50 per barrel the price of gasoline should continue to drop. But, if oil producing countries aggressively curtail production, prices may increase,” concluded Fairclough. “The winter weather and the increased demands for heating oil may impact the inventory surplus and force prices higher.”
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