VIRGINIA BEACH — Despite easing oil costs and lackluster domestic gasoline demand, AAA said pump prices eked out a three-cent gain since last week to $3.13.
Meanwhile, the motor club notes Thursday’s national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained at 34 cents.
“The culprit for the pop in prices is likely old man Winter,” said Ryan Adcock, AAA Tidewater spokesperson. “It’s a little harder to distribute gasoline in bad weather, and refineries don’t operate well in freezing temperatures either.”
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand fell from 8.32 million barrels per day last week to an anemic 8.08 million. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks rose from 243.6 million barrels to 245.9 million, while gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day.
Thursday’s national average for a gallon of gas is $3.13, nine cents more than a month ago and five cents more than a year ago, AAA said.
Locally, the gas price average for the Commonwealth increased to $3.09. Thursday’s price is eight cents higher than a week ago and 21 cents higher than a month ago. In Hampton Roads, prices increased seven cents to $3.04, which is 26 cents higher than a month ago and eight cents higher than a year ago, according to AAA.
