Filling Up The Tank? Prices Are Down But Still Painful to Pump

It's mid August and gas prices in Yakima are still high despite an 11.3 cent decrease over the last week. According to GasBuddy gas is selling for an average of $4.58 a gallon. GasBuddy officials say prices in Yakima are 50.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 77.6 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. If you buy diesel the national average price of diesel has declined 14.8 cents in the last week and stands at $5.27 per gallon.

You know where to find the cheapest gas in the valley?

If you're looking for the cheapest gas in the valley you'll find it in Wapato at $4.05 a gallon. The most expensive gas in Yakima is selling for $5.59 a gallon.
On the national side the average price of gasoline has fallen 9.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.92 per gallon today. The national average is down 63.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 74.8 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Don't get too excited about falling prices

For the ninth week straight, gas prices have continued to fall, but the streak is at great risk of being broken this week with wholesale gasoline prices having bounced back up some 40 cents per gallon as oil prices have rebounded," says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "That means the decline in average prices could wrap up soon, with some price increases possible as early as this week, especially in areas of the Great Lakes. While the West Coast and some areas of the Rockies may see prices continue to drift lower, I do believe the national average could tick higher this week as the better than expected jobs report last week likely means less demand destruction than anticipated."

Remember August of 2020? Wow how prices have changed

Historical gasoline prices in Yakima and the national average going back ten years:
August 15, 2021: $3.80/g (U.S. Average: $3.17/g)
August 15, 2020: $2.67/g (U.S. Average: $2.17/g)
August 15, 2019: $3.11/g (U.S. Average: $2.63/g)
August 15, 2018: $3.34/g (U.S. Average: $2.85/g)
August 15, 2017: $2.74/g (U.S. Average: $2.34/g)
August 15, 2016: $2.51/g (U.S. Average: $2.12/g)
August 15, 2015: $3.03/g (U.S. Average: $2.67/g)
August 15, 2014: $3.86/g (U.S. Average: $3.46/g)
August 15, 2013: $3.77/g (U.S. Average: $3.53/g)
August 15, 2012: $3.81/g (U.S. Average: $3.71/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
Tacoma- $4.59/g, down 0.7 cents per gallon from last week's $4.60/g.
Seattle- $4.94/g, down 7.3 cents per gallon from last week's $5.01/g.
Washington- $4.73/g, down 5.3 cents per gallon from last week's $4.78/g.