GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Gas prices for a number of Great Lakes states went up due to a price cycle, Grand Rapids specifically saw a 19.1 cent spike.
The average for gas in the Grand Rapids area is $2.68/g on Monday, Oct. 7, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 246 stations. Gas prices in the area are 6.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago, yet stand 30.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Grand Rapids is priced at $2.30/g today while the most expensive is $2.75/g, a difference of 45.0 cents per gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.65/g today. The national average is up 9.6 cents per gallon from a month ago, yet stands 25.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
- Kalamazoo: $2.56/g, up 15.0 cents per gallon from last week's $2.41/g.
- Lansing: $2.64/g, up 11.1 cents per gallon from last week's $2.53/g.
- South Bend: $2.41/g, down 10.2 cents per gallon from last week's $2.51/g.
"It was a mixed bag for gas prices over the last week even as oil prices remained relatively low," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "California continued to lead the nation as prices skyrocketed, but appear to have peaked for now, while the Great Lakes states also saw prices march higher due to a price cycle."
Dehaan says pther states saw some downward movement, but the U.S. appears ripe for a week that features more price decreases than increases
Dehaan believes the U.S. is due for the national average to edge lower by perhaps five cents in the coming week, "I believe increases should be limited due to oil's drop in the last week fueled by continued worry over tariffs and trade, not with just China but now extending to Europe after the WTO agreed with the U.S. that Airbus was getting favorable treatment."
Many motorists may scoff at such an issue affecting gas prices, but DeHaan says the threat of tariffs between such large trading partners is a serious issue that could result in slowdowns in both areas, leaving demand for oil lower and thus weighing on oil prices as a result.
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