Idaho bullish on gas prices

Gas prices are dropping all over - but not in Idaho.

As of Monday, 46 states had seen gas prices drop since April 16, but Idaho is not one of those states, said Dave Carlson, spokesman for the AAA travel agency.

What's the holdup here?

"Gasoline inventories are said to be at the tightest levels on the West Coast since 1992 due to refinery problems in California and Washington," Carlson said. "Higher wholesale costs have pushed gas prices 20 cents higher in just the past week in Washington and Oregon due to refinery shutdowns in California, following some routine maintenance earlier this spring.

"A rough restart of the Cherry Point Refinery in Washington has tightened regional supplies. That has caused some ripple effects in Idaho."

Coeur d'Alene's average on Wednesday was $3.85 per gallon, the same as it was a month ago, 32 cents more than six months ago and 8 cents more than a year ago.

Post Falls' average was $3.92 on Wednesday, up 6 cents from a month ago and 40 cents from six months ago.

Both of the local averages are higher than the state's average of $3.81 and the nation's average of $3.73.

Post Falls resident Ron Hall said he doesn't like what he sees, but he isn't surprised either.

"I've heard that we're higher than a lot of other places," he said. "Maybe our better days are ahead this summer."

Carlson said Idaho's gas prices have been lower than the nation's average this year until about 10 days ago.

"If these problems persist, the effects are likely to be felt regionally during the Memorial Day holiday period," Carlson said. "We don't believe they will have a substantial effect on travel plans since the holiday is near."

The overall prognosis is for weaker oil prices in coming months, Carlson said. A weakening global economy would be expected to consume less crude oil. Gas demand is down more than 4 percent this year in the U.S.

AAA predicts travel overall for Memorial Day next week in the region will increase 1.4 percent from last year compared to 1.2 percent nationally.

"Call it a modest increase, tempered by a small dose of consumer apprehension and high gas prices that arrived a month early this year," Carlson said.

Auto travel is expected to increase 1.6 percent in this region, while air travel is expected to decline 5.2 percent.

Based on regional predictions for travel originating in the Mountain states, the estimated number of Idahoans traveling 50 miles or more during the holiday is expected to be 189,400. The expected number of Idahoans traveling by car is expected to be 166,750.

A survey of travel intentions conducted for AAA the third week in April, when U.S. prices were higher, suggested that travelers will find ways to reduce expenses by cutting entertainment, hotel costs and food and not by canceling travel altogether.

Fifty-three percent said recent increases in gas prices would not impact their holiday travel plans. Of the remaining 47 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, 9 percent are planning to take a shorter trip, 4 percent will travel by an alternative mode of transportation and 34 percent will economize in other areas.

Average gas prices

Wednesday month ago 6 mo. ago year ago

Coeur d'Alene $3.85 $3.85 $3.53 $3.77

Post Falls $3.92 $3.86 $3.52 $3.82

Idaho $3.81 $3.76 $3.51 $3.78

U.S. $3.73 $3.91 $3.40 $3.96

SOURCE: AAA