National Gas Price Dips to New 2017 Low

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average gas price fell to the cheapest price of 2017 so far on July 3, when it reached $2.23 for a gallon of regular gasoline. U.S. drivers can find gas for $2 or less in one out of every four gas stations in the country, reported the AAA NewsRoom.

Week over week, gas prices fell in 46 states. Only Illinois, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., saw a slight price increase of one cent each. Prices in Hawaii and Maine stayed flat. South Carolina still has the cheapest gas in the country at an average of $1.90 per gallon.

"The combination of tepid demand and increased gasoline and crude output continues to put downward pressure on gas prices," said Jeanette Casselano, spokesperson for AAA. "While holiday gasoline demand is likely to reach new highs, it will probably not be enough to cause a significant increase on the price of gasoline in the coming week."

Gas prices were last this cheap over the Independence Day holiday in 2005, when the July 4 price was $2.23. The current national average is three cents less than a week ago, 15 cents less than a month ago and four cents less than a year ago.

The current top 10 least expensive markets in the United States are South Carolina ($1.90), Alabama ($1.96), Oklahoma ($1.97), Mississippi ($1.97), Tennessee ($2.00), Arkansas ($2.00), Missouri ($2.00), Virginia ($2.01), Texas ($2.02) and Louisiana ($2.04).

The top 10 markets with the largest monthly prices declines are Ohio (28 cents), Florida (23 cents), Michigan (23 cents), Indiana (19 cents), Delaware (19 cents), Kentucky (18 cents), Texas (18 cents), Maryland (16 cents), Iowa (16 cents) and California (16 cents).

On the West Coast, gas prices decreased one cent on average, week over week, but the region is still the most expensive in the country: Hawaii ($3.05), California ($2.94), Alaska ($2.83), Washington ($2.81), Oregon ($2.66), Nevada ($2.66) and Arizona ($2.26).

All states in the Rockies region saw prices fall on the week. Wyoming and Colorado appeared on the top 10 states with the largest weekly changes, at declines of 4 cents and 3 cents, respectively. The region's average price is $2.39 per gallon, with Idaho ($2.57) and Utah ($2.53) leading the region in price.

All Great Lakes and Central states, with the exception of Illinois, saw gas prices fall on average by three cents on the week. Three states saw some of the country's largest price drops: Ohio (8 cents), Michigan (7 cents) and Kentucky (4 cents).

Other findings from AAA include: 

• States in the South and Southeast have the cheapest gas prices in the country. The region saw gas prices fall by three cents on average to a regional average of $2.03.
• Gas prices fell by two cents on average in 14 Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states. Washington, D.C., saw a one-cent price increase, but overall, regional gas prices are on average 12 cents cheaper than one month ago.
• Drivers are seeing the greatest regional month-over-month price declines in Delaware (19 cents), Maryland (16 cents), Pennsylvania (15 cents), Virginia (14 cents) and North Carolina (13 cents).