Georgia gas prices  increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $1.96 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday's state average is 4 cents more than a week ago, 3 cents less than last month, and 46 cents less than this time last year.

It now costs motorists $29.40 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $11.70 less than what motorists paid in April of 2019, when pump prices hit their peak of $2.74 per gallon.

“The slight growth in demand has edged Georgia gas price average more expensive,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However motorists likely will see a decrease at the pump in the coming weeks as some states increase travel restrictions and others roll back reopening processes, due to increased COVID-19 cases across the country, which could impact demand.”

INCREASE IN GAS DEMAND PUSHES NATIONAL AVERAGE HIGHER

Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by 1 cent to $2.12. In the new weekly report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased from 8.34 million barrels a day to 8.76 million barrels a day. The increase in demand, alongside a drop in total domestic stocks by 2.3 million barrels to 225.4 million barrels, helped the national average to increase this week. However, EIA’s current weekly demand estimate is approximately 560,000 barrels a day lower than last year’s rate at this time. Low demand will likely contribute to pump prices remaining low this autumn. 

OIL MARKETS DYNAMICS

At the close of last Thursday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by 33 cents to settle at $41.12. Domestic crude prices decreased at the end of the day due to rising coronavirus infections worldwide, which could reduce global crude demand as countries impose new restrictions meant to stop the spread of the virus. Earlier in the day and week, domestic crude prices increased after Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) revised its outlook for world oil demand through the end of the year downward by about 300,000 barrels a day to 96.3 million barrels a day. The revision raised market expectations that the cartel and its allies, including Russia, will either agree to continue or increase current supply cuts when they meet on November 30 and December 1. Currently, OPEC and its partners in the production reduction agreement have agreed to cut crude output by 7.7 million barrels a day through the end of 2020.

REGIONAL PRICES

Atlanta ($1.98)

• Most expensive Georgia metro markets – Savannah ($2.02), Brunswick ($2.01) and Hinesville-Fort Stewart ($2.00).

• Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($1.85), Rome ($1.88) and Columbus ($1.89).  

CURRENT AND PAST PRICE AVERAGES (Regular Unleaded Gasoline)  

Gas Price Survey Methodology
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com. Every day up to 130,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.