romrodinka | iStock | Getty Images
You may have noticed that you spend more to fill your car’s petrol tank.
Do not be surprised if the price continues to rise.
The national average cost per gallon of gas has risen by about 18 cents over the past two weeks, on the heels of reduced oil refining during the extreme cold in Texas, according to GasBuddy. Now a large contribution will increase demand amid lower oil production and higher crude prices – which account for more than half the gas price.
More from Personal Finance:
Why You Should Report Crypto Possession to IRS
How To Get One Of The Best Jobs In America
Unemployment fraud can cause tax nightmare
The current national average for a liter of ordinary lead-free is $ 2.74. That’s $ 1 more than the $ 1.74 reached in April 2020, when the pandemic first took hold and demand fell, GasBuddy data shows. The states with the lowest average prices include Mississippi ($ 2.35), Louisiana ($ 2.37) and Texas ($ 2.39), while the states with the highest averages are California $ (3.67), Hawaii ( $ 3.41) and Washington ($ 3.08).
The cost per liter also tends to rise in the spring as demand increases and stations switch to cleaner and more environmentally friendly gas for the summer.
There are ways to save money on fuel – other than sticking to the speed limit and avoiding aggressive driving – that can translate into hundreds of dollars a year.
To get started, shop around. Depending on where you live, there can be large price fluctuations between filling stations. And even if the price per liter is just a few cents, it is still a contribution.
“Too many motorists just pull up to the nearest pump and end up with too many,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
There can also be strong differences in the price from country to country. For example, one gas station in Arizona is $ 1 less than a competitor on the California state line, De Haan said. (California’s tax per liter is 82 cents and Arizona 37 cents.)
There are also programs – including GasBuddy, Gas Guru and AAA TripTik – with which you can find the best prices on your route.
It is also worth exploring loyalty programs, which have very large chains. They are usually free and can offer cents per liter discount, De Haan said.
However, credit card rebates for gas purchases may not be the best option unless you pay the card balance regularly.
“If you do not pay off your account, you will end up giving the bank more money than the discount is worth,” said De Haan. “The cards work if you pay them off, but not if you carry the balance month to month.”