For the second week in a row, Delaware has the cheapest gas prices in the country.
Last week Delaware was tied with Ohio for the cheapest average price for a gallon of regular. This week, it joins Missouri and South Carolina with the lowest price. All three currently stand around $2.51 according to AAA.
AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Ken Grant says one reason prices are dropping is lower crude oil prices. He says they recently dropped from $76.41 per barrel on October 4th to $66.43 per barrel on October 23rd.
Grant says there are other factors at work as well.
“There’s less cross-country trips happening right now because of the cooler weather. Also, this does NOT seem to be the best foliage season. So we’re seeing fewer people traveling for that reason. And we’ve also made the switch over to the winter blend which is a cheaper blend of gasoline. So we’re expecting those prices to continue to drop for the next few weeks, probably,” Grant said.
Grant says he doesn’t expect cheaper prices here will necessarily bring drivers from surrounding states here to fill up. But he believes it could drive sales in another way.
“But I think it does encourage more people in this region, as they’re driving through, and especially if someone is going on a trip up and down the East Coast, they may decide to make Delaware their pitstop to fill up that tank,” said Grant.
And prices in the First State are significantly lower than neighboring states. The average price for a gallon of regular in the Philadelphia area is $2.97. It’s $2.81 in South Jersey and 2.67 in Maryland
