Brace Yourself For More Pain At The Pump In Alabama
Gasoline analysts are cautioning drivers that fuel prices are not likely to fall before the end of 2026, perhaps not until the first quarter of 2027.
Current uncertainty over the conflict in the Middle East has oil prices surging past $100.00 per barrel again this morning, with Brent crude (the main global oil benchmark) reaching roughly $103.00 to $107.00 per barrel.
By comparison, Brent Crude Oil was $96.44 a month ago and was $64.73 in May a year ago.
The rapid rise in gas prices slowed recently after the U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, but with President Trump's Sunday rejection of Iran's latest peace offer, morning prices rose 2% and are expected to rise further with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed.
National gas prices held steady overnight at $4.52 a gallon, but are 7¢ higher than this time a week ago and 39¢ above a month ago. This time a year ago, the price had dropped to $3.13 a gallon and was predicted to fall further below $3.00 a gallon, that is, until inflation and the Gulf War intervened.
In Alabama, the average cost of a gallon of gas is $4.06, a penny down overnight, but it is up 8¢ from last week, 21¢ above a month ago, and $1.32 more expensive than the $2.74 average recorded a year ago.
Nine of the 11 counties that comprise West Alabama are now experiencing gas prices at or above $4.00 per gallon. Perry County, at $4.26, remains the highest average price according to AAA's fuel tracker. Walker County's $ 3.94-a-gallon price is the lowest in the region. Marengo County's $3.96 a gallon is the only other county average below $4.00 in West Alabama.
Tuscaloosa County's average price is at $4.02 per gallon. That is down a penny from Sunday but 7¢ higher than a week ago, 19¢ above a month ago, and a whopping $1.32 higher than the $ 2.70-a-gallon average a year ago.
Even more troubling is the high cost of diesel. The Alabama average is $5.64. In Tuscaloosa County, the average is $5.65 per gallon. Truckers point out that the high cost of their fuel is driving up the cost of the goods they transport.
AAA-Alabama Spokesman Clay Ingram is advising motorists to continue looking for ways to save, like shopping around for cheaper gas and cutting back on unnecessary trips.
Ingram says Alabama and the Southeast are typically the states with the lowest-priced gas because of the proximity to refineries.
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($6.16), Washington ($5.76), Hawaii ($5.66), Oregon ($5.34), Nevada ($5.23), Alaska ($5.21), Illinois ($4.99), Arizona ($4.84), Ohio ($4.78), and Michigan ($4.78).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($3.98), Mississippi ($4.00), Louisiana ($4.02), Arkansas ($4.02), Nebraska ($4.08), Texas ($4.09), Georgia ($4.09), Alabama ($4.10), Kansas ($4.11), and Missouri ($4.16).
Analysts point out that if the Middle East War were to end today, it would be months before prices would see a significant recovery.
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