Your Winter Commute is Getting Cheaper!

At a time when a lot of people aren't driving Yakima gas prices have fallen 2.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.75 per gallon today, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 91 stations in Yakima.

Gas prices are lower than a month ago but more than a year ago

Officials at GasBuddy says prices in Yakima are 2.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.08 per gallon higher than a year ago.
Where can you find the cheapest gas in the valley? It's in Wapato selling for an average of $3.27 a gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 0.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.27 per gallon today. The national average is down 8.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.03 per gallon higher than a year ago.

Prices are expected to stabilize

"After a pretty long run of falling gas prices, we've seen things stabilize. Oil prices have started to rise as omicron hasn't been as severe as initially feared, leading to optimism that perhaps oil demand will start to rise in the weeks ahead as cases will eventually plateau," says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "In addition, Great Lakes states were expected to see a price hike last week, but the hike hasn't happened just yet, leading me to believe it will occur in short order this week and send the national average higher. For the rest of the nation, with oil near $76 per barrel, we will likely see gas price decreases replaced by minor price increases."

Prices today are much different than many other recent years

Historical gasoline prices in Yakima and the national average going back ten years:
January 3, 2021: $2.67/g (U.S. Average: $2.24/g)
January 3, 2020: $3.02/g (U.S. Average: $2.59/g)
January 3, 2019: $2.93/g (U.S. Average: $2.26/g)
January 3, 2018: $2.84/g (U.S. Average: $2.49/g)
January 3, 2017: $2.61/g (U.S. Average: $2.35/g)
January 3, 2016: $2.33/g (U.S. Average: $1.99/g)
January 3, 2015: $2.41/g (U.S. Average: $2.20/g)
January 3, 2014: $3.29/g (U.S. Average: $3.32/g)
January 3, 2013: $3.31/g (U.S. Average: $3.29/g)
January 3, 2012: $3.35/g (U.S. Average: $3.27/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
Tacoma- $3.91/g, up 1.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.89/g.
Seattle- $4.01/g, unchanged  from last week's $4.01/g.
Washington- $3.86/g, up 1.5 cents per gallon from last week's $3.84/g.