Georgia drivers are seeing a modest increase at the gas pump as the state average for regular unleaded gasoline rose to $2.92 per gallon—up 4 cents from last week.
Although slightly lower than a month ago by a penny, prices remain significantly cheaper than this time last year, when drivers were paying 46 cents more per gallon.
Currently, it costs the average Georgia motorist $43.80 to fill up a 15-gallon tank, nearly $7 less than a year ago.
“Nationwide, a surge in gas demand coupled with the climbing cost of crude oil has pushed prices higher at the pumps,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “The slump in crude oil costs kept the customary surge in spring gas prices at bay, but now, we find ourselves amid this anticipated increase as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.”
National trends
Across the U.S., gas prices are beginning their usual seasonal climb. The national average rose by 4 cents over the past week to $3.17 per gallon. While this trend is typical heading into summer, it was delayed this year due to previously low crude oil prices. Still, drivers are paying roughly 40 cents less per gallon than they were in 2024.
The uptick in gas prices comes as demand increases ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when AAA predicts a record-breaking 39.4 million Americans will hit the road.
According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.71 million barrels per day to 8.79 million. Meanwhile, the nation’s total gasoline supply dropped slightly, from 225.7 million barrels to 224.7 million.
Crude oil prices
On the oil front, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed last Wednesday at $63.15 per barrel, down 52 cents from the previous session. Despite a 4 million barrel increase in U.S. crude oil inventories, total supplies remain about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year, according to the EIA.
With fuel demand rising and the summer travel season ramping up, experts say motorists should expect continued price fluctuations at the pump in the coming weeks.
