Georgia gas prices increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.97 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 4 cents more than a week ago, 7 cents more than last month and 96 cents more than this time last year.

It now costs motorists $44.55 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $7.65 more than what motorists paid in January of 2020 when pump prices hit their peak of $2.46 per gallon.

“Peak summer driving season is in full-swing as Americans hit the road and gas prices are not backing down,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “Georgians are paying, on average, nearly a dollar more a gallon than last summer to fill up at the pump.”

NATIONAL AVERAGE SEES A PENNY INCREASE AS GAS DEMAND DECLINES AND OIL PRICES REMAIN HIGH

Since Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by 2 cents to $3.16. In its latest weekly report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that gas demand decreased from an all-time high of 10.04 million barrels a day to 9.28 million barrels a day last week. The decrease, alongside a 1 million barrels increase in total domestic gasoline stocks to 236.5 million, has helped to slow pump price increases. However, with oil prices above $70 per barrel, pump prices will likely remain high (above $3 per gallon) throughout the busy summer driving season.

REGIONAL PRICES

• Most expensive Georgia metro markets – Savannah ($3.03), Brunswick ($3.00), and Atlanta ($2.99).
• Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($2.84), Warner-Robins ($2.89), and Rome ($2.90)
• Area gas price averages – Chattooga ($2.85), Walker ($2.84), Floyd ($2.91), Gordon ($2.95), DeKalb, AL ($2.80), Cherokee, AL ($2.79)