(PADUCAH, Ky.) – Drivers in West Central Kentucky are getting some relief at the gas pump this week, with prices dropping six cents to $2.793 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s latest Gas Price Report.
The regional decrease comes as the nation enters the final month of summer driving season, though national trends show a mixed picture. The national average for regular gasoline climbed a penny over the past week to $3.15, matching July’s monthly average and equaling the lowest summer gas prices since July 2021.
Despite the modest national increase, motorists are still paying significantly less than last year, with today’s national average sitting 32 cents below year-ago levels.
Market Forces at Play
Energy analysts point to competing market pressures affecting pump prices. While crude oil prices and gasoline demand have both risen slightly, the increases haven’t been substantial enough to drive major price spikes.
New data from the Energy Information Administration reveals gasoline demand increased from 8.96 million barrels per day to 9.15 million barrels. However, total domestic gasoline supply dropped from 231.1 million barrels to 228.4 million barrels, even as production increased to an average of 10 million barrels per day.
Oil markets showed movement Wednesday, with West Texas Intermediate crude rising 79 cents to close at $70 per barrel. The EIA reported crude oil inventories grew by 7.7 million barrels, bringing total U.S. crude stocks to 426.7 million barrels – still about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.
Kentucky Regional Breakdown
Gas prices vary across Kentucky, with some areas seeing particularly favorable rates:
- Owensboro: $2.656 per gallon (lowest in the region)
- Paducah: $2.745 per gallon
- Elizabethtown: $2.749 per gallon
- Bowling Green: $2.801 per gallon
- Louisville: $3.012 per gallon (highest in the region)
National Price Landscape
Nationwide, gas prices continue to show dramatic regional variations. California leads the nation with the highest prices at $4.48 per gallon, followed by Hawaii at $4.47. On the opposite end, Mississippi offers the lowest prices at $2.71 per gallon, with Tennessee close behind at $2.76.
Kentucky’s position among lower-priced states reflects broader regional trends, with most Southern and Midwest states enjoying below-average gas prices.
Electric Vehicle Charging Costs
For electric vehicle drivers, public charging costs remained stable this week at 36 cents per kilowatt hour nationally. However, EV charging costs vary even more dramatically by state than gasoline prices, ranging from 25 cents per kilowatt hour in Kansas to 52 cents in West Virginia.
As summer driving season winds down, analysts will be watching whether the current price stability holds or if seasonal factors and global oil market dynamics will drive new changes in the weeks ahead.
Motorists can track current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and by county at gasprices.aaa.com.