(The Center Square) – Georgians who use diesel fuel are experiencing the largest price increase in the country, rising more than 60 cents over the week, according to AAA and GasBuddy.
Gas prices are rising, driven by global conflicts, according to organizations that track gas prices across America.
The average cost for a gallon of diesel is $6.18, up 62 cents, according to AAA. GasBuddy is reporting a 66.8-cent increase.
“Average gasoline and diesel prices rose in every state over the last week as geopolitical tensions escalated on multiple fronts, with friction between the U.S. and Iran, new hostilities in the Red Sea, and the shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline all combining to jolt prices sharply higher,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “New weekend attacks also knocked two additional Russian refineries offline, further straining global refined product supplies and likely offsetting any seasonal relief.”
The 66.8 cents increase in Georgia is the largest in the U.S., according to GasBuddy.
The cost of a regular unleaded gallon of gasoline is $4.02 in Georgia, 12 cents higher than last week, 20 cents higher than this time last month, and $1.12 higher than the same time last year, according to AAA.
“With oil above $100 per barrel, there’s no clear indication of when gas prices may decline or how high they could go,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA.
Motorists will find the lowest price for regular unleaded gas in northwest Georgia at $3.92 a gallon. The Savannah area has the most expensive gas at $4.05 a gallon.
Florida is the only one of Georgia’s neighbors with gas prices over $4 at $4.14 a gallon. Alabama gas is the least expensive among the surrounding states at $3.91 a gallon, followed by Tennessee and South Carolina at $3.92 a gallon, and North Carolina at $3.97 a gallon, according to AAA.
Gas prices jumped 13 cents nationwide for an average of $4.32 a gallon, according to AAA. The average cost for a gallon of gas in California is $6 a gallon. Motorists in four states, Washington, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii, are paying more than $5 a gallon.
Indiana continues to have the lowest fuel costs nationwide at $3.59 a gallon. Gov. Mike Braun extended a suspension of the state’s fuel taxes through Oct 5. The state’s gas tax is about 21 cents per gallon, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp extended a month-long gas tax suspension for two weeks in May for the Memorial Day holiday but the tax break is no longer in effect.
Georgia’s fuel tax adds about 33 cents to gasoline and 37 cents to diesel fuel, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The money funds statewide transportation projects.