State’s gas prices higher than average, but steady

BOISE – Average gasoline prices in Idaho have been relatively stable in the face of the escalating crude oil prices and various supply disruptions, including hurricanes, that have pushed up the price nationally by more than 7 cents a gallon in just the last two weeks.

But Idaho’s pump prices are still among the highest in the nation, according to the American Automobile Association.

“Idaho is served by refineries in Wyoming and Utah, so we’re not immediately or directly impacted,” said Dave Carlson of the AAA of Idaho.

The AAA’s daily gasoline price survey put the average pump price for self-service unleaded gasoline on Friday at just under $1.96 a gallon, still about a penny less than two weeks ago.

Nationally, the price jumped over $1.92.

After Idaho’s price peaked in early June at a record $2.09 a gallon, it took only three weeks to drop back below $2. But since early July, the price has fluctuated from $1.95 to $1.97, which was the upper end of the range Carlson predicted for summer motorists back in late June.

By contrast, the price nationally peaked at $2.05 just before Memorial Day and then slid back to nearly $1.80 before beginning to rise again last month.