Quiet week at the pumps as summer travel hits high gear; Bend’s average gas price drops a nickel a gallon
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding video)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – It’s the heart of the summer driving season, but gas prices are showing little movement, AAA Oregon/Idaho said Tuesday in its weekly report.
Most states, including Oregon, are seeing prices change by a nickel or less this week. Higher crude oil prices last week pushed the national average and many state averages slightly higher, but now prices in about half of all states, including Oregon, are ticking down again.
For the week, the national average for regular holds steady at $3.15 a gallon. The Oregon average slips two cents to $4.00 a gallon, while Bend’s average drops a nickel to about $3.82 a gallon.
“Gas prices should remain fairly steady for now, barring events such as renewed tensions in the Middle East, a storm or hurricane that impacts oil drilling and refining facilities in the U.S., or some other disruption in supplies,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
The Oregon average for regular gas began 2025 at $3.45 a gallon and is currently at $4.00. The highest price of the year so far is $4.076 on June 24 and 25. The lowest price of the year so far is just under $3.45 a gallon on January 2.
The national average began 2025 at $3.06 a gallon and is currently at $3.15. The highest price of the year so far is $3.268 on April 4. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.06 on January 5.
This week 15 Oregon counties have averages at or above $4, compared to 20 counties a week ago:
Clackamas $4.05
Clatsop $4.18
Columbia $4.19
Crook $4.06
Curry $4.15
Douglas $4.06
Grant $4.24
Harney $4.27
Josephine $4.07
Lake $4.28
Multnomah $4.11
Tillamook $4.12
Wallowa $4.10
Washington $4.11
Yamhill $4.09
Gas prices typically rise starting in mid-to-late winter and early spring as refineries undergo maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce and less likely to evaporate in warmer temperatures. The switch occurs first in California, which is why pump prices on the West Coast often rise before other parts of the country. The East Coast is the last major market to switch to summer-blend fuel. Most areas have a May 1 compliance date for refiners and terminals, while most gas stations have a June 1 deadline to switch to selling summer-blend until June 1. Switch-over dates are earlier in California with some areas in the state requiring summer-blend fuel by April 1. Some refineries will begin maintenance and the switchover in February.
Gas prices usually drop in the fall, due to the switch from summer-blend to winter-blend fuel, which costs less to produce. The switch starts in September. Many areas, including Oregon, can sell winter-blend fuel starting September 15. However, Northern and Southern California require summer-blend fuel through October 31. Prices usually decline to their lowest levels of the year in late fall and early winter before increasing again in the late winter and early spring.
Meanwhile, crude oil production in the U.S. remains near record highs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that crude production in this country ticked down from 13.43 to 13.39 million barrels per day for the week ending July 4. The record high is 13.63 million barrels per day for the week of December 6. Production has been at 13.5 million barrels per day many times since October. The U.S. has been the top producer of crude oil in the world since 2018 and has been increasing its oil production since about 2009.
The U.S. price of crude oil (West Texas Intermediate) had been mostly in the upper $60s to mid-$70s since last September. Crude prices spiked to the mid-$70s in mid-June in response to the strikes between Israel and Iran, and then the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but then prices fell back into the $60s on the belief that the conflict would not have a major impact on global oil supplies. Crude prices fell in early April as markets reacted to President Trumps tariffs and the impact on U.S. and global markets. Additional downward pressure on crude prices came after the decision by OPEC+ to increase production. The lowest closing price since September was $57.13 on May 5, which was the lowest closing price since February 2021. The recent high price for crude was $80.04 per barrel on January 15, which was the highest price since last August.
Crude oil is trading around $67 today compared to $68 a week ago and $82 a year ago. In 2024, West Texas Intermediate ranged between $66 and $87 per barrel. In 2023, WTI ranged between $63 and $95 per barrel. WTI reached recent highs of $123.70 on March 8, 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and $122.11 per barrel on June 8, 2022. The all-time high for WTI crude oil is $147.27 in July 2008.
Crude prices are impacted by economic news as well as geopolitical events around the world including the current economic uncertainty, unrest in the Middle East including the recent strikes between Israel and Iran and the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the war between Israel and Hamas, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia is a top global oil producer, behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Crude prices have been volatile after the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023. While Israel and the Palestinian territory are not oil producers, concerns remain that the conflict could spread in the Middle East, which could potentially impact crude production in other oil-producing nations in the region. In addition, production cuts by OPEC+ in previous years tightened global crude oil supplies, which continued to impact prices. But now the cartel boosted production by 411,000 barrels in May and June, and July, and announced an increase for August of 548,000 barrels per day.
Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline and diesel, so pump prices are impacted by crude prices on the global markets. On average, about 50% of what we pay for in a gallon of gasoline is for the price of crude oil, 17% is refining, 17% distribution and marketing, and 16% are taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Demand for gasoline in the U.S. surged 8.64 million b/d to 9.16 for the week ending July 4, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This compares to 9.40 million b/d a year ago. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 232.1 million barrels to 229.5. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.9 million barrels per day, compared to 9.6 million barrels per day the previous week.
Pump prices will likely stay fairly steady, if WTI crude oil prices don’t climb above $70 per barrel.
Quick stats
Oregon is one of 22 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a week ago. Florida (-9 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the nation. Michigan (+12 cents) has the biggest week-over-week increase. Most states have small changes in pump prices this week with 44 states and the District of Columbia seeing their averages change by a nickel or less.
California ($4.52) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the 22nd week in a row. Hawaii ($4.47) is second, Washington ($4.40) is third, and Oregon ($4.00) is fourth. These are the four states in the country with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week 25 states and the District of Columbia have averages in the $3-range. There are 21 states with an average in the $2 range this week.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Mississippi ($2.71) and Oklahoma ($2.75). No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since January 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic drove significant declines in crude oil and gasoline demand in the U.S. and around the world.
The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $1.81 this week, compared to $1.85 a week ago.
Oregon is one of 38 states and the District of Columbia with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is two cents more and the Oregon average is one cent more than a month ago. Idaho (+18 cents) has the largest month-over-month increase in the nation. California (-14 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop.
Oregon is one of 49 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices now than a year ago. The national average is 37 cents less and the Oregon average is 3/10ths of a cent less than a year ago. Florida (-58 cents) has the largest yearly drop. Washington (+12 cents) is the only state with a year-over-year increase.
West Coast
The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation with six of the seven states in the top 10. It’s typical for the West Coast to have six or seven states in the top 10 as this region tends to consistently have fairly tight supplies, consuming about as much gasoline as is produced. In addition, this region is located relatively far from parts of the country where oil drilling, production and refining occurs, so transportation costs are higher. And environmental programs in this region add to the cost of production, storage and distribution.
Rank
Region
Price on 7/15/2025
1
California
$4.52
2
Hawaii
$4.47
3
Washington
$4.40
4
Oregon
$4.00
5
Nevada
$3.76
6
Alaska
$3.75
7
Idaho
$3.47
8
Illinois
$3.46
9
Utah
$3.36
10
District of Columbia
$3.33
As mentioned above, California has the most expensive gas in the country for the 22nd week in a row. Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska round out the top six. Arizona is 14th. Oregon is fourth most expensive for the eighth week in a row.
Like most other states, the states in the West Coast region have small week-over-week changes. California (-3 cents), Oregon (-2 cents), Nevada (-2 cents), Arizona (-2 cents), and Washington (-6/10ths of a cent) have small decreases. Alaska (+3/10ths of a cent) and Hawaii (+1/10th of a cent) have tiny week-over-week increases.
The refinery utilization rate on the West Coast slipped from 89.9% to 88.3% to for the week ending July 4. This rate has ranged between about 72% to 92% in the last year. The latest national refinery utilization rate ticked down from 94.9% to 94.7%.
The refinery utilization rate measures how much crude oil refineries are processing as a percentage of their maximum capacity. A low or declining rate can put upward pressure on pump prices, while a high or rising rate can put downward pressure on pump prices.
According to EIA’s latest weekly report, total gas stocks in the region increased from 29.95 million bbl. to 30.38 million bbl. An increase in gasoline stocks can put downward pressure on pump prices, while a decrease in gasoline stocks can put upward pressure on pump prices.
Oil market dynamics
Crude oil prices rose last week then declined to start this week. Investors are considering President Trump’s decision to give Russia a 50-day deadline to end the war in Ukraine. Investors also continue to weigh tariffs and whether they will go into effect.
Meanwhile, the EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 7.1 million barrels from the previous week. At 426 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 8% below the five-year average for this time of year.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI jumped $1.88 to settle at $68.45. At the close of Monday’s formal trading session, WTI fell $1.47 to settle at $66.98. Today crude is trading around $67 compared to $68 a week ago. Crude prices are about $15 less than a year ago. ($81.91 on July 15, 2024)
Drivers can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.