According to AAA’s weekly report, gasoline prices in Georgia rose three cents over the past week, reaching an average cost of $2.97 per gallon for regular unleaded.

“Fuel costs were on a downhill slide, yet the anticipation of Hurricane Helene seemed to stir the waters,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “Prices at the pump ticked up a bit since everyone was eyeing Helene; however, the good news is that it missed the refineries in the Gulf. So hopefully, any impact on Georgia’s gas price average will be fleeting.”

What will you learn by reading below?

1. How do prices in Cobb County compare to the rest of the state
2. What are the national trends in gasoline prices?
3. What causes fluctuations in gasoline prices?
4. How does AAA arrive at its price estimates?

Gasoline prices in Cobb County

The price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Cobb County is $2.97, the same as the statewide average.

It is always possible to find lower gas prices than the average by comparison shopping or using tools like http://gasbuddy.com.

What are the national trends?

AAA’s weekly report stated the following about national gas and oil trends:

Pump Prices Pause as Hurricane Comes Ashore

Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline increased by 1 cent to $3.21 (subject to change overnight). According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose from 8.77 million barrels a day last week to 9.20. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks fell slightly from 221.6 million barrels to 220.1, while gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.8 million barrels daily. Tepid gasoline demand and low oil costs will likely keep pump prices sliding.

What causes fluctuations in gasoline prices?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the price of crude oil is the main factor affecting the price of gasoline.

“Strong and increasing demand for gasoline and other petroleum products in the United States and the rest of the world can place intense pressure on available supplies,” the EIA website states.

According to the EIA, other factors that can affect prices include” disruptions in crude oil supplies, refinery operations, or gasoline pipeline deliveries.”

There are also seasonal changes in demand that cause price fluctuations throughout the year.

For more information on the price considerations for crude oil and gasoline, visit the EIA website.

How does AAA determine gas prices?

According to AAA:

“AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com. Every day up to 130,000 stations are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. 

“All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.”