South Carolinians paying more expensive gas, current gas prices highest in years, report

South Carolina – Instead of going down as usual for this period, gas prices are seeing an increase compared to the previous weeks and months.

The rising trend in prices is seen in the state, but also the national average gas prices is going up, GasBuddy reported.

According to the most recent GasBuddy report, South Carolina residents are paying $1.09 per gallon more compared to the same period last year.

GasBuddy’s daily survey of 3,028 stations in South Carolina shows gas prices have risen 9.1 cents per gallon in the past week and prices are averaging at $3.00 per gallon across the state.

Current gas prices are 11 cents higher compared to last month, despite the fact that this period every year the prices are going down.

The difference between the cheapest and most expensive gas in South Carolina is 89 cents per gallon.

That said, the most expensive gas in the state is sold at $3.63 per gallon Monday, while the cheapest gas is sold at $2.74 per gallon.

The national average gas price has raised for 5.2 cents per gallon in the last week and was averaging $3.25 per gallon Monday.

Compared to last month, the national average gas prices are higher for 7.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.08 per gallon higher than a year ago.

“Last week saw oil prices advance to their highest in seven years, with a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil surpassing the critical $80 per barrel level. The nation’s gas prices were also pushed to their highest since 2014, all on OPEC’s decision not to raise production more than it already agreed to in July,” GasBuddy Head of Petroleum Analysis Patrick De Haan said.

“The OPEC decision caused an immediate reaction in oil prices, and amidst what is turning into a global energy crunch, motorists are now spending over $400 million more on gasoline every single day than they were just a year ago. The problems continue to relate to a surge in demand as the global economy recovers, combined with deep cuts to production from early in the pandemic. If Americans can’t slow their appetite for fuels, we’ve got no place for prices to go but up,” Haan added.