The national average for regular gas has dipped below $3 a gallon today for the first time in more than four years. The national average was last below $3 a gallon on May 11, 2021. Gas prices are falling in 48 states, including Oregon this week, driven by low crude oil prices and seasonal sluggish demand for gas. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the complete reopening of the Olympic Pipeline is also putting downward pressure on gas prices. For the week, the national average for regular slides six cents to $2.998 a gallon. The Oregon average falls three cents to $3.79 a gallon.

“The national average for regular gas was last below $3 a gallon on May 11, 2021, when it was just below $2.99 a gallon. Prior to that, the last time the national average was below $3 per gallon was on November 1, 2014,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “Gas prices should continue to move lower this month which is a nice holiday gift for drivers.”

The Olympic Pipeline, the Pacific Northwest’s primary fuel artery, is fully open. The pipeline system consists of a 16-inch diameter pipeline and a 20-inch diameter pipeline, and both are again carrying fuel. The system was shut down last month after a leak was detected near Everett, Washington on Nov. 11. Response crews did 24-hour excavation operations in the area and identified the source of the leak on the 20-inch pipeline. BP said testing on the 16-inch pipeline found no indications of a leak and it was restarted on Tuesday, November 25. The 20-inch line was restarted Saturday, November 29 according to a statement from BP, the pipeline’s operator.

The 400-mile pipeline system carries gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from refineries in Washington State to Portland. It also provides jet fuel to Sea-Tac International Airport.

The impact from this outage of the Olympic Pipeline was minimal, with the Oregon average for regular gas gaining just four cents after the outage occurred. An outage on the pipeline in September was one factor that caused gas prices in Oregon and Washington to spike. The outage occurred at the same time as planned and unplanned maintenance at refineries in Washington and California, and the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel. These factors all put a crimp in supplies and sent gas prices significantly higher with the Oregon average jumping 32 cents.

The Oregon average for regular gas began 2025 at $3.45 a gallon and is currently at $3.79. The highest price of the year so far is $4.297 on September 13 and 14. The lowest price of the year so far is just under $3.45 a gallon on January 2.

The national average began 2025 at $3.06 a gallon and is currently at $2.998. The highest price of the year so far is $3.268 on April 4. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.036 on October 19 and 20.

This week just one Oregon county has an average at or above $4, down from two a week ago:

Wallowa $4.11

Demand for gasoline in the U.S. gasoline increased from 8.53 million b/d to 8.73 million for the week ending November 21. This compares to 8.51 million b/d a year ago. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 207.4 million barrels to 209.9 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day compared to 9.3 million barrels the previous week.

Gas prices usually drop in the fall, due to the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce. The switch starts in September. Many areas, including Oregon, can sell winter-blend fuel starting September 15. However, Northern and Southern California require summer-blend fuel through October 31. Prices usually decline to their lowest levels of the year in late fall and early winter before increasing again in the late winter and early spring.

Gas prices typically rise starting in mid-to-late winter and early spring as refineries undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce and less likely to evaporate in warmer temperatures. The switch occurs first in California, which is why pump prices on the West Coast often rise before other parts of the country. The East Coast is the last major market to switch to summer-blend fuel. Most areas have a May 1 compliance date for refiners and terminals, while most gas stations have a June 1 deadline to switch to selling summer-blend until June 1. Switch-over dates are earlier in California with some areas in the state requiring summer-blend fuel by April 1. Some refineries will begin maintenance and the switchover in February.

The U.S. price of crude oil (West Texas Intermediate) has been in the upper $50s to mid-$70s since September 2024. Crude prices spiked to the mid-$70s in mid-June in response to the strikes between Israel and Iran, and then the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but then prices fell back into the $60s on the belief that the conflict would not have a major impact on global oil supplies. Crude prices fell in early April as markets reacted to President Trumps tariffs and the impact on U.S. and global markets. Additional downward pressure on crude prices came after the decision by OPEC+ to increase production. The lowest closing price since September was $57.13 on May 5, which was the lowest closing price since February 2021. The recent high price for crude was $80.04 per barrel on January 15, which was the highest price since last August 2024.

Crude oil is trading around $59 today compared to $58 a week ago and $68 a year ago. In 2024, West Texas Intermediate ranged between $66 and $87 per barrel. In 2023, WTI ranged between $63 and $95 per barrel. WTI reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008.

Crude prices are impacted by economic news as well as geopolitical events around the world including the current economic uncertainty, unrest in the Middle East, the war between Israel and Hamas, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is a top global oil producer, behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Crude prices have been volatile after the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023. While Israel and the Palestinian territory are not oil producers, there were concerns that the conflict could spread in the Middle East, which could potentially impact crude production in other oil-producing nations in the region. Crude oil prices declined after October’s fragile peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. In addition, production cuts by OPEC+ in previous years tightened global crude oil supplies, which continued to impact prices. But this year, the cartel has boosted production starting by 411,000 barrels per day in May, June, and July, 548,000 barrels per day in August, 547,000 barrels per day in September, and 137,000 barrels per day in October, November and December.

Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline and diesel, so pump prices are impacted by crude prices on the global markets. On average, about 49% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 14% is refining, 21% distribution and marketing, and 17% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Meanwhile, crude oil production in the U.S. remains at or near record highs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that crude production in his country ticked down from 13.84 million barrels per day to 13.81 for the week ending November 21. Production has been at 13.5 million barrels per day many times since October 2024. The U.S. has been the top producer of crude oil in the world since 2018 and has been increasing its oil production since about 2009.

Quick stats

Oregon is one of 48 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Michigan (-14 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the nation. North Carolina (+1 cent) has the biggest week-over-week increase in the nation.

California ($4.54) is the state with the most expensive gas in the nation for the 11th week in a row. Washington took over the top spot for a week in September when the Olympic Pipeline was out of operation. This week, Hawaii ($4.45) is second, and Washington ($4.16) is third. These are the only states with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 16 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. There are 31 states with an average in the $2 range this week.

The cheapest gas in the nation is in Oklahoma ($2.40) and Texas ($2.55) and. No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since January 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic drove significant declines in crude oil and gasoline demand in the U.S. and around the world.

The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $2.14 this week, compared to $2.09 a week ago.

Oregon is one of 35 states with lower prices now than a month ago. The national average is four cents less and the Oregon average is 10 cents less than a month ago. Colorado (-26 cents) has the biggest month-over-month drop in the nation. Rhode Island (+8 cents) has the largest month-over-month increase.

Oregon is one of 14 states with higher prices now than a year ago. The national average is five cents less, while the Oregon average is 24 cents more. Oregon has the largest year-over-year increase in the nation. Colorado (-30 cents) has the largest yearly drop.

West Coast

The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with all seven states in the top 10. It’s typical for the West Coast to have six or seven states in the top 10 as this region tends to consistently have fairly tight supplies, consuming about as much gasoline as is produced. In addition, this region is located relatively far from parts of the country where oil drilling, production and refining occurs, so transportation costs are higher. And environmental programs in this region add to the cost of production, storage and distribution.

Diesel

For the week, the national average loses five cents to $3.74 a gallon. The record high is $5.816 set on June 19, 2022. The Oregon average declines three cents to $4.31. The record high is $6.47 set on July 3, 2022. A year ago the national average for diesel was $3.54 and the Oregon average was $3.83.

Source: AAA

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