Like COVID-19 cases gas prices are spiking in Yakima and around the state of Washington.

GAS PRICES ARE UP ALMOST 9 CENTS A GALLON THIS WEEK

Officials at GasBuddy say gas prices in Yakima are up 8.5 cents a gallon in the past week selling for an average of $3.80 a gallon. According to GasBuddy's daily survey of 91 stations in Yakima gas prices are 9.2 cents higher per gallon than a month ago and they stand $1.13 per gallon higher than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports,the cheapest station in Yakima is priced at $3.25 a gallon today while the most expensive is $3.99 a gallon, a difference of 74.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state today is $3.33 a gallon while the highest is $4.44 a gallon, a difference of $1.11 a gallon.

COVID CASES IMPACTING THE PRICE OF GAS?

On the national side the average price of gas is down 0.5 cents per gallon in the last week selling for an average of $3.17 a gallon. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. says  "as the number of Covid cases continues to surge globally, oil prices continue to be under pressure due to some countries instituting travel and movement limitations. This limits oil demand, which has led to the increase in gas prices slowing, and many states seeing slight drops compared to prices a week ago, In addition, the tropics are heating up, which could be a source of upward pressure on gas prices should we see a major hurricane target the Gulf Coast. However, without such a storm, gas prices may see some stability over the coming week or two, before slowly decreasing as the summer driving season wraps up."

PRICES ARE HIGH THROUGHOUT THE STATE

Historical gasoline prices in Yakima and the national average going back ten years:
August 16, 2020: $2.68/g (U.S. Average: $2.16/g)
August 16, 2019: $3.16/g (U.S. Average: $2.62/g)
August 16, 2018: $3.34/g (U.S. Average: $2.85/g)
August 16, 2017: $2.73/g (U.S. Average: $2.34/g)
August 16, 2016: $2.49/g (U.S. Average: $2.13/g)
August 16, 2015: $3.02/g (U.S. Average: $2.68/g)
August 16, 2014: $3.86/g (U.S. Average: $3.46/g)
August 16, 2013: $3.78/g (U.S. Average: $3.53/g)
August 16, 2012: $3.82/g (U.S. Average: $3.71/g)
August 16, 2011: $3.79/g (U.S. Average: $3.58/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
Tacoma- $3.95/g, up 1.5 cents per gallon from last week's $3.93/g.
Seattle- $4.00/g, up 0.9 cents per gallon from last week's $3.99/g.
Washington- $3.81/g, up 2.2 cents per gallon from last week's $3.79/g.