Washington is now the most expensive state to buy gas for the first time in 18 years — even surpassing California — which is known for high fuel prices.
The average price for gasoline in Washington has risen 34 cents over the past month to $4.95 a gallon, according to the AAA. In California, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is nine cents lower at $4.86.
It is the first time Washington has dethroned California to win this unwanted title. In data dating back to 2005, the state has never been the most expensive to buy gas, GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan told CNN.
The Golden State, on the other hand, has long been the national leader at the pump, topping the price ranking 95 percent of the time in recent years, De Haan said.
Experts warned that the price increase was due to oil companies passing on fees introduced in Washington to limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by companies.
Washington is now the most expensive state to buy gas for the first time in 18 years
Washington’s median price is more than $1 higher than the typical national cost for a gallon, which the AAA puts at $3.58.
It’s nearly $2 a gallon higher than that of Mississippi, America’s cheapest state for fuel, where the average price at the pump is $3.01.
In some parts of Washington, drivers pay more than $5 a gallon. In King County, where Seattle is located, the average for regular gas is $5.09 per gallon, according to AAA, while Skamania County averages $5.32 per gallon.
But even though Washington has the highest average price, gas stations near major California cities still charge a lot. Eight of the top 10 metropolitan areas in America with the highest price at the pump are in California, according to AAA.
The Evergreen State signed the Climate Commitment Act in 2021, establishing an ambitious program to limit the state’s carbon emissions.
A new carbon pricing program launched in January that charges companies for the greenhouse gases they emit, and experts warn that oil companies are choosing to pass those compliance fees on to consumers.
According to the Oil Prices Information Service, the cost to the consumer is about 50 cents per gallon.
The state Department of Ecology, which oversees the carbon pricing program, said it is aware of oil companies passing on costs but has no power to stop it, the Ecology Department said. Seattle Times.
Governor Jay Inslee’s office told the outlet it’s too early to accurately assess the price impact of the state’s climate policies.
“However, no one would be surprised if record-growing oil companies choose to pass on their compliance costs to customers — sometimes even for fuels that are legally exempt,” Jaime Smith, Inslee’s executive director of communications, said in a written statement. rack.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Climate Commitment Act in 2021
According to the Consumer Price Index, the cost of gasoline fell by 19.7 percent between May 2022 and May 2023
However, the overall cost of gas is much lower than in 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to widespread shortages and skyrocketing prices at the pump.
In Washington, the average price a year ago was $5.54 per gallon. Across the country, the average price for regular gas is $3.58 per gallon, down $1.39 from June 2022 — amid efforts by the Federal Reserve to curb rising inflation.
According to statistics released earlier this month by the Labor Department, gasoline costs fell 19.7 percent between May 2022 and May 2023, providing some relief for motorists.
All in all inflation in the US has slowed to 4 percent year on year, the lowest rate of price increases since March 2021, when inflation was 2.6 percent.