By Tim Mandese, Cowboy State Daily
Wyoming’s average price per gallon of $4.02, is up 1 cent since our last report of $4.01 on Monday.
The website GasBuddy.com, which tracks national gas prices, reported Wyoming’s average gas price is down 5 cents from a week ago, and is up, 71 cents per gallon from one year ago.
Wyoming’s average price for gasoline remained above the national average of $3.89.
High and Low Prices:
The highest reported gasoline price in Wyoming on Tuesday was in Moose at the Phillips 66, 12170 Doran Rd, at $5.78 per gallon. The lowest price in Wyoming was in Gillette at the Conoco on 302 W Lakeway Rd, reporting $3.21 per gallon.
The highest county average is in Teton County, with an average of $4.80 per gallon. The county with the lowest average, is Campbell County, with $3.38 per gallon. These are the highest and lowest reported prices among those stationed surveyed.
*The average price, reported by AAA, in each Wyoming county:
Albany $3.70; Big Horn $4.39; Campbell $3.38; Carbon $4.11; Converse $3.99; Crook $3.91; Fremont $4.26; Goshen $4.02; Hot Springs $4.06; Johnson $4.05; Laramie $3.80; Lincoln $4.61; Natrona $3.41; Niobrara $3.85; Park $4.50; Platte $4.71; Sheridan $3.99; Sublette $4.06; Sweetwater $3.98; Teton $4.80; Uinta $4.31; Washakie $4.42; Weston: $4.01
*The lowest Price, reported by GasBuddy, in selected Wyoming cities:
Basin $4.45; Buffalo $4.11; Casper $3.28; Cheyenne $3.59; Cody $4.21; Douglas $3.89; Evanston $4.24; Gillette $3.21; Jackson $4.68; Kemmerer $4.24; Laramie $3.29; Lusk $3.84; Newcastle $3.89; Pinedale $4.03; Rawlins $3.93; Riverton $4.16; Rock Springs $3.69; Sheridan $3.75; Sundance $4.04; Thermopolis $4.04; Wheatland $4.48; Worland $4.35
Tim’s Observations:
While the state average continues to slowly drop, there is one place that has seen prices rise again. Last week, Casper had multiple stations reporting $3.28 per gallon but today only one station is reporting that price, with the most common price in the city being $3.36.
As we approach Labor Day weekend, and see the end of the summer travel season, we also see the end-of-summer-blend gasoline. Prices normally go up this time of year, because the supply of winter gas is in shorter supply. Add this to the recent drop in oil inventories, and it is even more likely we will soon see prices climb again at the pump.
According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA) oil inventories have plummeted. Crude oil inventories decreased by 7.1 million barrels to a total of 425 million barrels. At 425 million barrels, inventories are 10.6 million below last year, down 2.4%, and are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) decreased 3.4 million barrels from the prior week to 461.2 million barrels and stands 25.8% below the level of a year ago.
While crude oil inventories have dropped, so have gasoline inventories. Gasoline inventories decreased by 4.6 million barrels to a total of 215.7 million barrels. At that level, inventories are down 12.5 million barrels, or 5.5% lower than a year ago and are 8% below the five-year average for this time of year. This decline in inventories, is seasonal and coincides with the switch to winter blend fuel.
*Note: We use AAA.com for the county and state averages and GasBuddy.com for the low prices in our selected cities. Prices in this report are for reference only. They are gathered just prior to posting, and may not reflect prices that have changed since last posted.
