Gas Prices Heating Up During Summer Driving Season

It's good that gas prices aren't reaching record prices like the record temperatures in Washington State but gas prices are climbing as the summer driver season is underway. GasBuddy says gas prices in Yakima are up 11.2 cents per gallon in the last week selling for an average of $3.59 a gallon. Prices in Yakima Today are 15.8 cents higher than a month ago and we are now paying 97.4 cents per gallon more for gas than we were a year ago. The national price is up 2.5 cents per gallon in the last week selling for an average of $3.09 a gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Yakima is priced at $3.13/g today while the most expensive is $3.89/g, a difference of 76.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state today is $3.17/g while the highest is $4.13/g, a difference of 96.0 cents per gallon.

"With oil's continued push higher, fueled by continued strong demand globally and production only slowly answering, gasoline prices have had no choice but following the national average last week setting a new 2021 high," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "As we approach July 4, it appears the only way forward is for gas prices to continue their rise as Americans insatiable demand for gasoline continues to be the catalyst for the rise in price. With hurricane season soon coming into its prime, we have plenty of catalysts for a rise in price, and few that could restrain the situation. Motorists should prepare to dig deeper for the second half of the summer, unfortunately."

Historical gasoline prices in Yakima and the national average going back ten years:

June 28, 2020: $2.62/g (U.S. Average: $2.17/g)

June 28, 2019: $3.24/g (U.S. Average: $2.71/g)

June 28, 2018: $3.34/g (U.S. Average: $2.86/g)

June 28, 2017: $2.68/g (U.S. Average: $2.24/g)

June 28, 2016: $2.56/g (U.S. Average: $2.29/g)

June 28, 2015: $3.12/g (U.S. Average: $2.78/g)

June 28, 2014: $3.91/g (U.S. Average: $3.68/g)

June 28, 2013: $3.76/g (U.S. Average: $3.51/g)

June 28, 2012: $3.78/g (U.S. Average: $3.36/g)

June 28, 2011: $3.80/g (U.S. Average: $3.54/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:

Tacoma- $3.76/g, up 6.3 cents per gallon from last week's $3.70/g.

Seattle- $3.82/g, up 5.6 cents per gallon from last week's $3.76/g.

Washington- $3.64/g, up 6.5 cents per gallon from last week's $3.57/g.