Gas prices keep falling in Utah but remain higher than national average
Dec 5, 2022, 6:14 PM | Updated: 7:28 pm
DRAPER, Utah — Gas prices in Utah have fallen 32 cents over the last month, according to AAA, lowering the state’s average for a gallon of regular to $3.78 on Monday.
“It’s nice to be able to not pay over $80 for a full tank of gas anymore,” said Lehi resident Charlotte Marler. “Now, it’s down a good $20.”
During the summer — when Utah gas prices reached a record of $5.26 a gallon — Marler avoided filling up a full tank and limited driving.
“Once summer started, I kind of just pulled back on driving just because of the gas prices,” she said.
Utahns are welcoming the relief at the pump as they’ve watched prices drop 13 cents in just the last week.
“I’m very happy that they are lower,” said Saratoga Springs resident Roger DeBry. “I wish they’d gone lower sooner.”
DeBry said he noticed that Utah’s prices are still much higher than the national average, which fell to $3.40 a gallon on Monday.
A spokesperson for AAA said there are a number of factors contributing to the cheaper gas.
“There are economic fears of a recession happening in some countries, especially China, and that’s pushing the global oil market down,” said Julian Paredes. “Also, at the same time, U.S. demand for gas has been a little bit lower than it has been last year, and refineries are back in full production again.”
Prices should continue to fall, Paredes said. However, it’s unclear what the impact will be from continued OPEC cuts to production and the embargo and price cap on Russian oil.
“For the foreseeable future, gas prices will be trending downward,” Paredes said. “A lot of places in the U.S. are already seeing gas prices below $3 a gallon.”
The recent drop in prices puts the nationwide average lower than it was when Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February.
Paredes said Utah and other states in the West should expect their gas prices to remain higher than the national average.
AAA said Texas has the cheapest gas in the country at $2.78, followed by Oklahoma at $2.86.
