(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s average gas price is $2.97 for regular unleaded heading into the Fourth of July holiday week.
That’s lower than the $3.29 average a year ago as, nationally, gas price averages will be at their lowest point for the Fourth of July travel week since 2021. The national average is currently $3.18 while it was $3.49 a year ago.
Wisconsin was not in the top 10 lowest average prices from the American Automobile Association, led by Mississippi at $2.73, but it was closer to the low end than the high-end of California ($4.62), Hawaii ($4.47), Washington ($4.45) and Oregon ($4.06).
“With tensions in the Middle East cooling off after a few weeks of volatility, consumers planning to hit the road for the Independence Day weekend will see gasoline prices falling in the run-up to July 4 nearly coast to coast,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a post. “… As long as tensions don’t escalate again in the Middle East and the U.S. isn’t threatened by a major hurricane, we could see the national average fall below $3 per gallon later this summer.”
De Haan clarified that, while prices reached a lower point earlier this summer, this will be the low point for the holiday since 2021. He said it isn’t directly related to any president, just as he said with President Joe Biden in the past.
“It’s actually the effect of rebalancing after two seismic shockwaves: both the pandemic ending surging demand, and Russia’s war on Ukraine, culminating in 2022’s peak,” De Haan wrote on social media. “Since then, Fed policy and global cooling has led to the third straight year on year decline for July 4.”
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The lowest recorded prices in the state on Monday morning was $2.69 for cash purchases at Bono’s in Kenosha, $2.74 at Kwik Trip in Marinette and $2.75 at Kwik Trips in Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Kenosha and Park Falls along with Sam’s Club in Kenosha and Costco in Pleasant Prairie.
Nationally GasBuddy projects the holiday average to be $3.15 this year after being $3.49 in 2024, $3.46 in 2023, $4.80 in 2022, $3.12 in 2021 and $2.18 in 2020.