State Fuel Prices Fall to Five-Week Low
Phoenix, Ariz., April 19, 2012. Across the state and country, motorists are experiencing a small drop in pump prices for the third consecutive week. This week, Arizona’s statewide average shed 0.7 cents to $3.869 per gallon. Nationally, prices dropped 1.6 cents to an average of $3.891 per gallon.
While some parts of the country continue to experience price volatility, others have started to experience minor price relief in recent weeks, raising the question of whether prices have peaked for the year. According to the Department of Energy’s Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook, the answer is no. The agency’s revised outlook projects national retail fuel to average of $3.95 from April through September, with a national peak average of $4.01 in May.
“Given current state factors and trends, Arizona’s fuel average is likely to be below these forecasted price points,” said Linda Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona. “Nonetheless, prices are expected to remain above year ago levels throughout the summer. As such, AAA encourages drivers to continue to implement cost saving measures in order to maximize fuel budgets and get the most out of every tank.”
As an advocacy organization representing the motoring public, AAA offers a variety of free resources to help motorists keep fuel budgets in check, including:
- Fuel Price Finder (AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.
- AAA Gas Price Alerts (AAA.com/gasalerts) offers users weekly fuel price text alerts.
- Fuel Cost Calculator (FuelCostCalculator.AAA.com) helps budget travel expenses.
- TripTik Mobile (AAA.com/mobile) plots fuel prices along your travel route.
- AAA's Member Rewards Visa® Credit Card (AAA.com/financial/AAAvisa.htm) accumulates double points on fuel purchases.
Tucson and Flagstaff hold the low and high state fuel averages at $3.710 and $3.984 respectively. Wyoming and California hold the low and high price extremes for the lower 48 states at $3.642 and $4.209, respectively.
| City | Today’s Price | Change from Last Week | Premium | Diesel | Last Year’s Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Valley (Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Apache Junction, Queen Creek) | $3.873 | -0.3 | $4.133 | $4.041 | $3.658 |
| Flagstaff | $3.984 | -0.5 | $4.183 | $4.295 | $3.781 |
| Glendale | $3.871 | -0.4 | $4.121 | $4.092 | $3.634 |
| Peoria | $3.866 | -0.6 | $4.134 | $4.127 | $3.612 |
| Phoenix (city) | $3.864 | -0.5 | $4.121 | $4.074 | 3.665 |
| Pima County | $3.729 | -0.5 | $3.933 | $4.170 | $3.523 |
| Prescott (Tri-Cities) | $3.887 | +0.1 | $4.115 | $4.117 | $3.666 |
| Scottsdale (Scottsdale, Fountain Hills) | $3.964 | -1.4 | $4.235 | $4.170 | $3.767 |
| Tucson | $3.710 | -1.1 | $3.923 | $4.142 | $3.517 |
| Yuma | $3.887 | -5.6 | $4.080 | $4.118 | $3.787 |
| Statewide | $3.869 | -0.7 | $4.101 | $4.145 | $3.690 |
| National | $3.891 | -1.6 | $4.163 | $4.136 | $3.837 |
| E-85 | $3.336 | -0.7 | - | - | $3.242 |
| *E85 MPG/BTU adjusted price | $4.390 | -0.9 | - | - | $4.266 |
*The BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is the nationwide average price of E-85 adjusted to reflect the lower energy content as expressed in British Thermal Units. The BTU-adjusted price is calculated and displayed as part of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report because according to the Energy Information Administration, E-85 delivers approximately 25 percent fewer BTUs by volume than conventional gasoline. Because "flexible fuel" vehicles can operate on conventional fuel and E-85, the BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is essential to understanding the cost implications of each fuel choice for consumers.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report includes data from gasoline stations in every Arizona community. Local prices in some communities might be higher or lower than the averages shown here. This service is updated daily by the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) with average national, state and local prices for gasoline, diesel and E-85. Every day more than 100,000 stations are surveyed in cooperation with Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability.