Two Utah counties now average more than $5 a gallon for gas

SALT LAKE CITY — Gasoline prices crossed the $5 a gallon benchmark by a fraction of a penny in two southern Utah counties while gas stations in the northern part of the state advertised prices just a penny below that benchmark.

KSL found two gas stations in North Ogden that advertised a gallon of regular unleaded for $4.99.

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in Utah is $4.87.

Beaver and Kane counties in southern Utah had the highest average price. Beaver was $5.004 a gallon and Kane at $5.032.

Nearly all states to the west of Utah averaged prices over $5.00 a gallon, with California the most expensive by far at $6.34.

AAA said a barrel of oil now costs $120 which has nearly doubled the price from last August.

The nationwide average surged to $4.86 last week, a $0.25 increase. It is $0.59 more than a month ago and up by $1.81 from more than a year ago, AAA said.

“People are still fueling up, despite these high prices,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “At some point, drivers may change their daily driving habits or lifestyle due to these high prices, but we are not there yet.”

Gross said volatile crude oil prices and pump prices will stay high as long as there is growing demand and a tight supply.