Pump prices for gasoline are at an eight-month high as students head back to school following summer vacation.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported Monday, July 31, the national average price of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.75, while the average price at the pump in Mississippi was $3.24.
The average price of gasoline in Tate County on Tuesday, Aug. 1, was $3.25. Senatobia’s average price was $3.24, including a low of $3.19 at Murphy USA on Wilson Drive and a high of $3.39 at EZ Mart on East Main Street.
Gasoline prices in Senatobia rose sharply at the end of last week and were $3.35 in most places including Murphy USA and both Circle K stores. The cheapest gas of $3.22 was found at the Shell station at 333 East Main Street.
According to AAA, Stone County is where the cheapest gas in Mississippi is located, averaging $3.14 a gallon. Rankin and Simpson counties in the Jackson area are among some of the state counties where pump prices are averaging about $3.18 a gallon.
Sharkey County has the most expensive gas in Mississippi averaging $3.49 a gallon, followed by Tunica County at $3.48.
The state average of $3.24 a gallon at the end of July was nearly 18.5 cents more than the previous week’s price. At the end of June, the state average was $2.97 and one year ago, the average price was $3.80 a gallon.
Mississippi still leads the nation with the lowest average gas prices in the country, followed by Alabama ($3.350), Louisiana ($3.351), Tennessee ($3.388), and Arkansas ($3.399).
California remains the state with the most expensive gasoline at an average of $4.989, followed by Washington at $4.950.
Average gas prices in Metropolitan areas in Mississippi include Southaven-Olive Branch ($3.297), Jackson ($3.202), Hattiesburg ($3.207), and Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula ($3.254).
Experts said problems at refineries and low levels of stored gas mean prices are surging worldwide, according to Bloomberg. OPEC nations may cut production in August, which could push pump prices even more.
