Gas Prices Remain “Seasonally Lower”

(Undated) — The current national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.80. GasBuddy’s Head of Petroleum Analysis, Patrick De Haan, says prices nationally saw “little change” over the last week, though several price-cycling states did experience notable jumps. He says the good news is that once prices rise in these markets, they often retreat for a week or longer afterward. De Haan says that while the situation in Venezuela has dominated headlines, it’s far too early to see any measurable impact on what consumers are paying at the pump, whether prices go up or down, as it would likely take years to see a meaningful increase in oil output there. He says crude oil prices have remained rangebound, and even as the situation in Venezuela continues to develop, oil prices have only seen modest upside. De Haan says for now, gas prices remain “seasonally lower,” but with oil prices inching higher, the national average could soon see some limited upward movement.