Gas prices hold their ground

COEUR d'ALENE — Idaho drivers saw little change at the pump this week, but with the cost of crude oil at a 10-month high, gas prices could be on the move.

Idaho’s average price for gas is holding steady at $4.15 per gallon, which is half a penny less than a week ago, 4 cents more than a month ago, but 27 cents less than a year ago, according to AAA.

Coeur d'Alene gas prices are running about $4 a gallon at most stations.

“Idaho gas prices aren’t climbing right now, but with the price of fill-ups increasing in other parts of the country, the seasonal savings that usually come after Labor Day are nowhere in sight,” said Matthew Conde, AAA spokesman.

The Gem State dropped from ninth to 10th in the country for most expensive fuel behind California ($5.69), Washington ($5.05), Nevada ($4.92), Hawaii ($4.80), Oregon ($4.70), Alaska ($4.61), Arizona ($4.55), Utah ($4.30) and Montana ($4.20).

According to AAA, the West Texas Intermediate benchmark for crude oil is currently trading near $91 per barrel, the most since November of last year.

“In Idaho, we have no refineries of our own. The fact that Utah and Montana — where most of our finished gasoline comes from — have higher pump prices than we do suggests that we could experience similar challenges soon,” Conde said.

Idaho gas prices as of Monday: Boise, $4.17; Franklin, $4.36; Idaho Falls, $4.05; Lewiston, $4.03; Pocatello, $4.17 and Rexburg, $4.14.