Despite Rising Prices, Fuel Outlook Still Good for 2015

Gasoline prices shot up 7 cents last week. The current national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.25.  Since 2000, February gas prices rose every year except 2001. On average, February gas prices rose 22 cents during the past five years. Despite Gas prices being up 19 cents in Georgia so far this month, gas prices are still more than a dollar cheaper than this time last year, and are not expected to reach $3 this year. AAA estimates that the average household will spend about $750 less for gasoline in 2015 compared to last year because of lower prices.  This is however one of two times a year that refineries do maintenance on their machinery and switch to a cleaner-burning “summer-blend” fuel, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency. This trend, coupled with wildly volatile crude prices have pushed U.S. pump prices 22 cents above mid-January lows. In Rabun County the average for a gallon of unleaded fuel is $1.92.