One year ago, prices averaged $2.59 per gallon, before rising to a record $3.28 on May 31. Just last month, prices were down to an average $3.07.
Higher crude prices above $100 a barrel have pushed gasoline prices ever higher, even as those prices have caused everyday drivers and businesses that rely on transportation to cut back their gasoline consumption.
The bad news is that prices probably are headed up even more, said AAA spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough. They typically rise the spring and summer months as more people go on driving vacations and buy more fuel. "So we could see increasing prices over the next couple of months," she said.
That's especially bad news for owners of diesel-powered vehicles. Diesel prices in Utah hit a record high Tuesday of $4.03 per gallon. That compares with $2.92 just one year ago.
From time to time, Utah's fuel prices are among the most expensive nationwide, but today they are in the middle of AAA's state rankings of fuel costs, and the national average is $3.29 per gallon.
Gas prices do vary greatly - even from one block to another - so it pays to shop around. Utahgasprices.com, a gas-price comparison site, on Tuesday listed a Smith's Marketplace station in Bountiful selling unleaded gasoline for $3.09 per gallon while a station near Delta was at $3.49 per gallon.
John Spears of Kaysville, who operates a home-based, carpet-cleaning business, filled up his Ford van for $3.16 last week. He's dreading the next fill-up.
"I can't remember gas prices ever being higher," Spears said.
Spears, who cleans carpets from Ogden to Draper, said because his equipment is so heavy, he can't buy a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle. At home, it doesn't make any sense, either, given that he has five girls ages 1 to 14. "We're just not driving as much," he said.
Many people in rural communities continue to pay more for gas than those living along the Wasatch Front.
Erin Hanson of Cedar City paid $3.26 to fill up her Toyota Camry on Friday.
Hanson drives from Cedar City to St. George three times a week for work, logging about 100 miles each day.
She said she tries to share driving with others as much as possible, but finding someone to accompany her on her weekly commute has been difficult.
"It hasn't worked out. But I'm still looking."
lesley@sltrib.com
Selected prices, by state:
1.
Hawaii
$3.65
23.
Utah
$3.26
50.
Missouri
$3.12
National avg.
$3.29
Source: AAA
* To find the lowest prices for fuel, go to Utahgasprices.com
