Oregon gas prices jump 50 cents a gallon
Published 1:42 pm Tuesday, September 27, 2022
- Gas prices in Oregon increased this week by 50 cents a gallon on average, to $5.14, after declining for three months.
After a three-month reprieve from rising gas prices, Oregonians saw the average price per gallon jump 50 cents this week to $5.14, the largest increase of any state in the country.
The sudden jump is tied to oil refinery issues, according to AAA. Several refineries in California and Washington are undergoing maintenance, slowing production and leading to short fuel supply on the West Coast.
National gas prices have also increased due to a slowdown in production in the Gulf of Mexico because of Hurricane Ian. The national average climbed 7 cents this week to $3.75.
This week’s price hike breaks a 14-week decline of gas prices for Oregon and the country after both hit record highs in mid-June. Oregon peaked at $5.55 per gallon on June 15, and the national average reached $5.02 on June 14. And prices had steadily climbed since February, due to rising crude oil prices affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. and other countries placed strict economic sanctions on Russia, one of the world’s largest oil producers.
Oregon now has the third-highest gas prices in the nation, behind only California and Hawaii. Mississippi has the cheapest gas in the country, averaging $3.07 per gallon.
Within Oregon, Tillamook County’s had the most expensive gas prices on Tuesday, averaging $5.55 a gallon, according to AAA. In Central Oregon, the average price per gallon was $5.28 in Crook County, $5.20 in Deschutes County and $5.15 in Jefferson County.