Local gas prices hold steady

COEUR d'ALENE — Monday’s price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State was $3.91, which was 3 cents more than a week ago but six cents less than a month ago.

Meanwhile, the national average was $3.76 per gallon, which is 16 cents more than a week ago and 22 cents more than a month ago.

Coeur d'Alene prices ranged from about $3.85 to $4.05. Prices dipped below $4 a gallon at some stations.

Idaho ranks 11th in the country — falling out of the top 10 — behind California ($5.00), Washington ($4.95), Hawaii ($4.70), Oregon ($4.61), Alaska ($4.34), Nevada ($4.28), Illinois ($3.99), Colorado ($3.95), Utah ($3.94) and the District of Columbia ($3.91).

“We spent some time in the low to mid-$70 range, but crude oil is back above the $80 mark, as the market is feeling a bit more optimistic that summer travel is still going strong,” said AAA Idaho spokesman Matthew Conde. “Since the cost of crude makes up more than half of the price of finished gasoline, when the price of oil climbs, gas prices usually follow.”

The West Texas Intermediate benchmark for crude was trading near $81 per barrel, which is $2 more than a week ago and $10 more than a month ago. According to the latest report by the Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand increased slightly to just under 9 million barrels per day.

“So far this year, Idaho’s state average hasn’t hit $4 per gallon, but that could change in the coming weeks,” Conde said. “If gasoline demand and crude oil remain high, or if a hurricane makes landfall near a major refinery, there’s a chance that the highest pump prices of the year are yet to come.”

Here’s a look at Idaho gas prices as of Monday:

Boise, $3.89; Franklin, $3.94; Idaho Falls, $3.79; Lewiston, $3.82 and Twin Falls, $3.83.