CHICAGO, Illinois (News Talk 1480 WHBC) – GasBuddy is out with its predictions for 2022, and it looks like you’ll need to budget more money for gasoline.
The gas-savings platform predicts prices will average 39-cents more per gallon compared to last year.
And the national average price could hit four dollars a gallon sometime before Memorial Day.
Stark County prices are typically lower though, by 23-cents on Tuesday, according to AAA.
GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan says the imbalance between supply and demand because of COVID continues, but should return to normal at year’s end.
Michigan gas prices rise average of 8 cents a gallon, more than $1 from a year ago
Average Michigan gas prices for regular unleaded jumped 8 cents a gallon Monday from just a week ago, and are now $1.01 more than they were a year ago, according to AAA Michigan’s price survey.
Overall, the auto club said, the average price per gallon is $3.18. The average in metro Detroit is a little higher, at about $3.23 a gallon, only about 1 cent more than last week’s average.
That means Michigan motorists are paying about $48 for a 15-gallon fill-up.
Usually, pump prices fall as a result of lower demand, but that hasn’t been the case this week as an increase in the price of crude oil has helped keep them high, despite speculation of declining demand for gas as COVID-19 cases rise.
Crude oil prices increased last week after the Energy Information Administration reported total domestic crude stocks fell by 2.1 million barrels.
The current stock level is about 14% lower than at the end of December 2020.
In addition, as temperatures are expected to drop to the teens and single digits, with wind chills dipping into the negatives, car experts say extremely cold temperatures can wreak havoc on vehicle functionality.
Sources: https://www.whbc.com/, Detroit Free Press
Cold weather car care
AAA offers the following tips:
- Have the battery charged to ensure it’s fully charged and in good condition.
- Keep the gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
- Use a windshield washer fluid with winter solvent that won’t freeze.
- Use engine coolant with anti-freeze.
- If possible, park in a garage.
- Put a plastic trash bag between the door or window glass and the frame.
- Postpone car washing until temps rise above freezing.
