In recent weeks, gas prices have spiked, both in Virginia and around the country.
According to AAA, nationally, gas is around $3.70 per gallon, as of Sunday, March 15. Virginia’s prices are a bit lower, around $3.49.
Recommended Videos
Despite Virginia having lower prices than the national average, there has still been an increase over the past week. On March 8, AAA reported the national average at $3.45 per gallon, and Virginia’s at $3.28, meaning Virginians have seen a 21¢ increase on average in the last seven days.
In Roanoke, the average price is slightly higher than the state average. Prices rose 19.9 cents per gallon in the last week, reaching an average of $3.36 per gallon as of Monday, March 16, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 155 stations in the city. Compared to a month ago, prices in Roanoke are 57.7 cents per gallon higher, and they stand 56.4 cents higher than this time last year.
Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years while diesel could soon approach the $5-per-gallon mark nationally. Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist. At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy
Gas prices have been steadily climbing since the ongoing conflict in Iran, primarily due to conflicts surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, where, usually, around 20 million barrels of oil pass through every day. The strait is controlled by Iran, and has seen closures due to the conflict.
For more on the conflict in Iran, you can find updates here.