US Just Pennies Away From $5 A Gallon Average Gas Price Nationwide

With the national average gas price just pennies away from the $5 a gallon mark, experts predict that gas prices will only continue to climb.

As of Thursday, the national average gas price was $4.97 a gallon – another record high for the nation, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Now, at least 18 states have hit an average gas price over $5 a gallon, including Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Idaho, and Utah.

California leads the country with the most expensive average gas price in the nation at $6.403 per gallon, with some gas stations in the state reported to be selling gas for near $10 a gallon.

The lowest average gas price is located in Georgia at $4.407 per gallon, AAA indicated.

According to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at gas tracker site GasBuddy, gas prices are going to be high for quite some time.

He told Fox News’ “Varney & Co.” on Wednesday, “we’re going to be swimming in these high prices for a while,” adding that a national average of $6 a gallon could be reached in the coming months.

De Haan warned that “we’re one refinery issue or one major hurricane away from being able to see” gas prices reach a national average of $6.

Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for the OPIS, which tracks gas prices for AAA, sees a national average gas price close to $6 a gallon later this summer based on the huge demand during the summer travel season.

He told CNN, “Anything goes from June 20 to Labor Day. Come hell or high gas prices, people are going to take vacations.”

High demand for gas during the summer compounded by the war in Ukraine has sent the price of oil up on the global market.

As of early Thursday morning, crude oil was trading at $121 a barrel, according to OilPrice.com.