Armand Jackson
The average cost for gas in Wisconsin and throughout the nation has continued to steadily decrease throughout the past few weeks, based on recent data from the American Automobile Association (AAA). As of December 14th, 2022, the average price of gas in Wisconsin is $2.822 per gallon, a few cents below the $3.214 national average. These prices are below the average cost per gallon in the state a week ago when it was at $2.974, last month’s high average of $3.598, and December 2021’s average of $3.017. According to AAA, there are now 34 states that have averages lower than around this time last year.
This is a welcome change of pace since high gas prices have been among the biggest concerns for consumers throughout the year. AAA spokesperson, Andrew Gross stated: “The seasonal pattern of less driving due to shorter days and crummy weather, combined with a lower oil cost, is driving gas prices lower. If this trend continues, many states could see their average prices fall below $3 a gallon by early next year.” Hopefully this trend holds throughout the coming weeks as travel plans for the holidays and New Years start to increase.
However, even if gasoline prices are going down, it seems the cost of diesel fuel is still expensive. AAA’s director of public affairs, Nick Jarmusz, told the Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR): “Diesel tends to be less susceptible to seasonal patterns, just because shipping is a year-round industry, these sorts of commercial activities that rely on diesel tend to not go down in the wintertime the way we see road trips and leisure driving is reduced in the wintertime.”
Heading into 2023, drivers will have to stay vigilant of gas prices as the war in Ukraine continues, among a multitude of other factors. Including oil production decisions OPEC+, the international group of 23 oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia and Russia, make in the future. Jarmusz in his conversation with WPR cautions consumers to not put the blame or success of gas prices on one policy or politician by stating: “It’s typically some combination of factors that is not going to be able to be directly attributed to any one particular policy, focusing the majority of the blame or credit on any politician or any public policy decision is typically going to be missing a lot of context.”
