Gasoline prices nationwide, on average, continued to soar past the $4.50 per gallon mark over the last week and into Monday. Diesel, at $5.55 per gallon, has cooled off by two cents from its record high set on May 18, according to AAA.
The Crack Spread
Experts note that while crude oil prices are down from the highs seen in March, gasoline is still breaking records on a national and local level. While these prices generally tend to move in sync, the current mismatch is due primarily to refining costs—or the crack spread—being so high.
The crack spread is the difference between the purchase price of crude oil and the selling price of finished products after refining. This added cost is absorbed by consumers. Historically, the refining process added $10.50 to the overall cost per barrel. Today, that crack spread is over $40 per barrel.
Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Washington using data from AAA. Gas prices are as of May 23. Cheapest gas stations are from GasBuddy. The state gas tax data is from World Population Review. Connecticut and Georgia have temporarily suspended gas taxes to help consumers while the cost of gas has increased.
Fuel for Thought
Washington by the numbers
– Gas current price: $5.21
– Week change: +$0.17 (+3.5%)
– Year change: +$1.64 (+46.1%)
– Gas tax: $0.52 per gallon (#3 highest among all states)
– Historical expensive gas price: $5.21 (5/23/22)
– Diesel current price: $5.76
– Week change: +$0.02 (+0.3%)
– Year change: +$2.33 (+67.9%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $5.77 (5/20/22)
Gas Prices in Auburn, WA
As of 005/25/2022 at 9:00 p.m. – in no order
| ARCO & ampm 3910 S 320th St | $ 4.99 cash |
| Walmart 762 Outlet Collection Dr | $4.79 |
| ARCO & ampm 3648 Auburn Wy N | $ 4.99 cash |
| Marathon 520 E Main St | $ 5.09 cash |
| ARCO 305 S At SE | $5.09 cash |
| Fred Meyer 801 Auburn Wy N | $ 5.09 |
| Safeway 101 Auburn Way S | $ 5.09 |
| 76 & 7-Eleven 1602 A St SE | $ 5.19 |
| 7-Eleven 1539 21st St SE | $ 5.199 |
| 7-Eleven 4026 A St SE | $ 5.15 |
| 76 1725 Auburn Wy N | $5.19 |
| 76 1111 17th St SE | $4.69 cash |
| 76 5011 S 288th St | $5.24 cash |
| Chevron 1692 Lake Tapps Pkwy E | No New Data |
| Chevron & 7-Eleven 31980 Military Rd S |
$5.79 cash |
Gas Prices in Pacific, WA
As of 05/25/2022 at 9:00 p.m.
| ARCO & ampm 401 Ellingson Rd | $4.95 cash |
| Chevron 174 Stewart Rd SW | $5.59 cash |
| 7-Eleven 415 Milwaukee Blvd N | $5.19 |
| Shell 1151 Valentine Ave SE | $5.39 cash |
| 76 406 Ellingson Rd | $5.49 cash |
There are no gas stations in Algona.
Cheapest gas stations
#1. Trading Post: $4.33 (180 Birch Ave, White Swan)
#2. 76: $4.38 (61 W Wapato Rd, Wapato)
#3. Wheeler’s Kountry Korner: $4.38 (2421 W Wapato Rd, Wapato)
Metros with most expensive gas in Washington
#1. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett: $5.34
#2. Longview: $5.31
#3. Tacoma: $5.26
#4. Vancouver: $5.25
#5. Olympia: $5.24
#6. Bremerton: $5.19
#7. Bellingham: $5.17
#8. Walla Walla: $5.14
#9. Wenatchee: $5.13
#10. Mount Vernon-Anacortes: $5.11
#11. Yakima: $5.05
#12. Richland-Kennewick-Pasco: $4.97
#13. Spokane: $4.91
#14. Clarkson: $4.67
States with the most expensive gas
#1. California: $6.07
#2. Hawaii: $5.38
#3. Nevada: $5.25
States with the least expensive gas
#1. Oklahoma: $4.04
#2. Kansas: $4.05
#3. Arkansas: $4.12
States with the highest gas tax per gallon
#1. Pennsylvania: $0.59
#2. California: $0.53
#3. Washington: $0.52
States with the lowest gas tax per gallon
#1. Alaska: $0.0895
#2. Hawaii: $0.16
#3. Virginia: $0.162
The above article originally appeared on Stacker and has been republished with permission. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified content provided by Stacker or GasBuddy.
The Crack Spread