Gas prices up 11 cents in a week in Metro Richmond and Virginia
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The average price of a gallon of unleaded gas in Metro Richmond and Virginia is up 11 cents in one week, to $3.52 in both cases, according to AAA. Nationally, the average cost per gallon is $3.71, up 13 cents since last week.
The primary cause, according to AAA officials, is the rising cost of oil, which is up nearly $4 in the past few days, near $80 a barrel. Because oil accounts for almost 50 percent of the cost of a gallon of gas, higher oil prices usually mean higher pump prices.
“Gas demand, meaning people fueling up, remains tepid. It’s lower now than at this time last year and in 2021,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson. “But while the heat may be keeping some folks home, it also suppresses refinery production, according to experts. Constrained supplies and a higher cost of oil are tipping the balance toward rising pump prices for now.”
Today's national average of $3.71 is 15 cents more than a month ago but 59 cents less than a year ago. Virginia’s average ($3.52) is up 21 cents in a month, but down 56 cents from this day a year ago.
AAA’s Fuel Price Finder locates the lowest fuel price in your area, while its AAA Gas Cost Calculator can help budget travel expenses. The company’s TripTik Mobile is designed to help travelers plot fuel prices along their travel routes.
