Wyoming Drivers Catch a Break as Gas Prices Slide Below $2.85

Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Cap City News, and K2 Radio contributed to this report.

Wyoming drivers are getting a little good news at the pump this week. Average gasoline prices across the state slipped another 9.5 cents over the last seven days, landing at about $2.84 per gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of nearly 500 Wyoming stations. That puts prices 4.5 cents lower than a month ago and a solid 18.2 cents cheaper than this time last year.

The range around the state is still wide. On Sunday, the cheapest gas found in Wyoming was going for $2.28 a gallon, while the most expensive hit $3.39. That $1.11 gap means it can really pay to shop around, especially for families getting ready to hit the road for the holidays.

Nationally, the picture is a lot more subdued. The US average for regular gas nudged down just 0.4 cents to $3.03 per gallon. Compared with a month ago, the national average is actually up 1.1 cents and is also 1.1 cents higher than a year ago, so Wyoming is currently faring better than the country as a whole. Diesel drivers aren’t as lucky: the national average price for diesel climbed 4.1 cents this week to $3.769 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said relatively calm oil markets are helping keep gasoline prices from swinging wildly. With crude hovering near the $60-per-barrel mark, he noted, about half the states saw prices rise last week while the other half saw them fall. He also pointed out that drivers on the West Coast should start to see more noticeable relief as wholesale prices fall, seasonal demand tapers off and refineries finish up maintenance. If those trends hold, he’s hopeful the national average could drop back below the $3 mark by Christmas.

For now, Wyoming motorists are already seeing some of that relief ahead of the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel rush. With prices trending lower than last year and well under the national average, filling up for a winter road trip is at least a little easier on the wallet.