These days there’s a bargain at the gas pumps

As concerns about COVID-19 continue to rise, Americans are seeing pump prices plummet across the country. On the week, gas price averages in 35 states decreased by double-digits, pushing the national average to $2.25, the cheapest price point of the year. “During this uncertain time of COVID-19, gas prices are declining despite increasing gasoline demand and decreasing U.S. stock levels,” said Tiffany Wright, AAA spokesperson. “There’s a high likelihood that the national average could hit $2 per gallon by the end of March.” Gas prices are trending cheaper for two major reasons: Concerns about COVID-19 are contributing to cheaper crude oil prices The crude price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. South Carolina is still a part of the nation’s top 10 least expensive markets with average pump prices now at $1.97, while North Carolina’s weekly price average is now $2.07, a decrease of 13 cents. It’s likely that North Carolina will fall below the two-dollar price point in the coming week. After President Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Energy would purchase oil to top off the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, crude prices rallied briefly. However, the announcement is unlikely to help increase crude prices further since the limited number of barrels the U.S. could purchase is small when compared to the dramatic reduction in global crude demand as a result of reduced economic activity due to COVID-19. Moving into this week, crude prices are likely to continue decreasing as the world grapples with how to contain the ongoing international public health crisis and associated economic challenges that could lead to a global recession. Until the price war ends and fears about COVID-19 subside, domestic crude prices are likely to remain low.