Gas pump prices drop again in Michigan ahead of Thanksgiving holiday travel

Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·2 min read
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Gas prices were down an average of 10 cents a gallon Monday in Michigan, good news for the more than 1.5 million drivers in the state who are expected to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA.

Michigan drivers are now paying an average of $3.27a gallon for regular unleaded. That’s 15 cents less than this time last month and 57 cents less than this time last year, the auto club, which tracks prices at gas stations nationwide, said.

Motorists are paying an average of $49 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline.

Eleven states now have average prices below $3.
Eleven states now have average prices below $3.

"Michigan motorists are seeing lower pump prices ahead of Thanksgiving," Adrienne Woodland, spokeswoman for AAA, said. "If gas demand and the cost of oil remain low, drivers could see gas prices continue to fall heading into the holiday."

GasBuddy, which also tracks gas prices, noted Monday that gas prices have fallen nationally for the ninth consecutive week, which is the longest streak of declines in more than a year.

"GasBuddy now counts over 65,000 stations with a price of $2.99 per gallon or lower, while 11 states are seeing average prices below $3," Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, said, adding that "five more states join the sub-$3 club by Thanksgiving."

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Lower gas demand, alongside declining oil prices, has contributed to pushing pump prices down.

Gas demand decreased from 9.49 million to 8.95 million barrels a day, according to the Energy Information Administration. Total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.5 million barrels to 215.7 million barrels.

West Texas Intermediate, an oil market benchmark, decreased by $1.60 to settle at $76.66.

Oil prices fell due to reduced market concerns that the conflict in the Middle East will escalate, which could lead to a reduction in regional oil production and higher prices.

In Michigan, the most expensive gas price averages are in Marquette, $3.39 a gallon; Jackson ,$3.36, and Ann Arbor, $3.34; the least expensive gas price averages are in: Grand Rapids, $3.19; Benton Harbor, $3.21 and Flint, $3.24.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pump prices drop, as Michiganders gas up for Thanksgiving travel