Average gasoline prices in Chattanooga rose another 7.7 cents per gallon in the past week, boosting the average price of regular gas to $2.15 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 stations in Chattanooga.
Although prices at the pump have risen 15.9 cents a gallon in the past month in Chattanooga, local gas prices still remained 24 cents a gallon below the U.S. average price for regular gas now at $2.39 a gallon. Chattanooga prices are also still 6.1 cents a gallon below what they were a year ago at this time of year.
Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said gas prices nationwide had their biggest weekly jump so far in 2019 last week and Chattanooga fuel prices are at the highest level in more than three months, following the increase in oil prices so far in 2019.
"Unfortunately, we're likely in store for a continued March higher into March and even April as seasonal trends kick into high gear, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel," DeHaan said in a report today. "Average gas prices should remain lower than their year ago levels for now and the annual spring surge we see at gas pumps will likely not be as bad as we've seen in years past."
Although nearly three dozen gas stations in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama are selling gas today below $2 a gallon, the cheapest gas today in Chattanooga is at two Highway 58 gas stations - Hi-Tech and Mapco - which are selling regular gas today at $2.05 a gallon.