(The Center Square) – One week after American involvement in a Middle East war and days prior to July 4, transportation energy prices in North Carolina remain stable.
The average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline statewide is $2.91, down a penny from a week ago, up 9 cents from one month past, according to the American Automobile Association.
Last Monday, prices rocketed up 6 cents on average in a week’s time, with some locations seeing jumps of nearly 20 cents from Friday to Monday. In between, B-2 bombers went from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to Iran and back, dropping bombs on three locations considered pivotal to nuclear foreign policy.
The national average is down 4 cents to $3.18. For diesel, the state average is $3.51 and nationally it’s $3.69. For context, at the turn of the calendar new year the statewide average for unleaded regular was $2.86 a gallon and the national average was $3.04.
Combustion engine consumers make up more than 8 million of the vehicle registrations in the nation’s ninth largest state.
North Carolina’s electric vehicle charging rate average, according to AAA, is 33 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average is 36.3 cents per kwh. More than 100,000 zero emission vehicles are registered in the state. The state norm is down one-tenth of a penny, the national up two-tenths.
Eleven states have lower average prices for a gallon of unleaded; 17 are lower for diesel; and seven are lower in electric.
Among 14 major metro areas, the least expensive average for unleaded gas is in Fayetteville at $2.80. Most expensive is the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area ($2.96).
Diesel is the most consumer-friendly ($3.43) in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton.
North Carolina’s 40.3 cents per gallon tax rate for 2025 is topped by California (59.6), Pennsylvania (57.6), Washington (49.4), Illinois (47), Maryland (46.1), and New Jersey (44.9).
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The motor fuel excise tax rate in the state is the amount for the preceding calendar year (40.4), multiplied by a percentage. The percentage is plus or minus the sum of the annual percentage change in state population for the applicable calendar year, multiplied by 75% and the annual energy index percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, multiplied by 25%, the state Department of Transportation explains on its website.
Motor fuel taxes in the state go to the Department of Transportation’s highway and multi-modal projects, adding up to just more than half of the state transportation resources. Specifically, the revenues go into the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund.