A report from the AAA Auto Club Group says that gas prices in Michigan have increased by 19 cents compared to last month, making the state’s average $4.27 per gallon.
This comes after Michiganders saw a small decrease in prices when at the pump. Officials say the cost of gas will continue to fluctuate.
“That was a short-lived relief that Michigan drivers saw, but prices are now back heading upwards,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA.
The main driver behind the increase is the increasing price of crude oil and a decrease in gas production, according to the auto club.
The price of a barrel is around $85, $3 more than last month and nearly $23 higher than last year, according to market data.
The ongoing war in Iran has impacted the price of gas across the country, as global oil supplies are reduced by blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. The strait transited 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas before the start of the war, according to NBC News.
“We've seen the price of crude oil go back up within the last several weeks, and that's one of the main factors leading to the increase in what drivers are paying at the pump,” Woodland said.
She said there are some ways motorists can save when driving:
- Combine errands into one drive
- Shop around the community
- Reduce speeding to save on fuel economy
AAA reported that Alpena, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska have some of the lowest prices in the state’s lower northern Lower Peninsula.
