AUGUSTA, Georgia – Gas prices in Georgia and South Carolina rose at the pump compared to a week ago, but residents of the Augusta area are paying less than those in other parts of Peach State, according to the AAA.
Georgia drivers are now paying an average price of $ 2.57 per gallon for ordinary unleaded gasoline.
But in Augusta, the average price is $ 2.51 per gallon. Although it is cheaper than the rest of the state, it is higher than a week ago, when the Augusta average was $ 2.46.
Monday’s state average is 6 cents more than the previous week, 33 cents more than last month and 29 cents more than last year.
It now costs drivers $ 38.55 to fill a 15-gallon gas tank; that’s $ 1.65 more than drivers paid in January 2020, when pump prices peaked at $ 2.46 per gallon.
“As U.S. oil production was shut down due to the winter storm on the Gulf Coast, we can expect gas prices to have an impact,” said Montrae Waiters, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Georgians are expected to anticipate a price hike at the pump next week.”
Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased 9 cents to $ 2.72.
The national average continues to rise as oil prices rise. Gas prices have also risen due to disruptions at refineries longer than expected due to last week’s winter storm that affected the Gulf Coast.
Georgia’s most expensive metropolitan markets – Savannah ($ 2.62), Brunswick ($ 2.61) and Valdosta ($ 2.58).
Less expensive Georgia subway markets – Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($ 2.51), Rome ($ 2.52) and Athens ($ 2.53).
Meanwhile in South Carolina
South Carolina gasoline prices rose 4.6 cents per gallon last week, compared to 14.7 cents the previous week.
GasBuddy says his daily survey of 3,028 jobs in South Carolina showed an average price of $ 2.46 per gallon. Gas prices in South Carolina are 29.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 31.2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in South Carolina costs $ 1.99 per gallon on Monday, while the most expensive is $ 2.75 per gallon. This is a difference of 76.0 cents per gallon.
GasBuddy says the national average price of gasoline rose 7.5 cents per gallon last week, averaging $ 2.72 per gallon on Monday. The national average is up to 30.3 cents per gallon compared to the previous month and is 30.6 cents per gallon more than a year ago.
In Spartanburg, prices are averaging $ 2.48 per gallon, an increase of 9.3 cents per gallon and in Columbia, prices are sitting at $ 2.47 per gallon.
“Gas prices continued to rise last week after the cold weather-related outages in Texas, but going forward, the impact of the cold has probably ended,” said GasBuddy chief oil analyst Patrick De Haan. “However, several other factors will increase its influence on gas prices again, including the fact that demand for gasoline continues to gain momentum.”
De Haan said last year’s price increase was mainly driven by the drop in American production. He says the number of active oil rigs in the U.S. is almost 50% less than a year ago, which is a big factor driving prices.
This week, OPEC will meet to increase oil production to moderate price increases, but De Haan says consumers are concerned about not increasing oil production enough to meet the growing appetite of the global economy.
From WALB, WCSC and WRDW / WAGT reports