The national average gasoline price at the start of Thanksgiving week was $2.54; 2 cents cheaper than last month but 40 cents more expensive than Thanksgiving week 2016.
At 55 percent of gas stations nationwide, gas prices are $2.50 or less.
“Nearly 46 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles away from their home by car this holiday. Many will be thankful to see gas prices trending cheaper in cities across the country,” Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson, said. “Since 2014, the national gas price average has dropped one to five cents heading into the Thanksgiving week.”
The Western states once again have the nation’s highest gasoline prices. In Alaska, the average price is $3.27 which is 6 cents higher than last week and 63 cents higher than last year. California has prices 3 cents less than last week but 52 cents higher than 2016.
Conversely, prices in the South and Southwest are again the nation’s least expensive. Prices have been fairly consistent with the exception of Florida, which saw a 4-cent decrease, and Louisiana, which saw a 3-cent increase.
In the Rocky Mountain states, Colorado and Utah both have large price increases from 2016, at 47 cents and 16 cents respectively.
Prices in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast state either had a slight decline or no change.
In the Great Lakes states and Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have prices 50 cents higher than 2016.