Average gasoline prices in Iowa decrease by two cents during past week

Average retail gasoline prices in Iowa have fallen two cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.47 per gallon March 15, according to GasBuddy?s daily survey of 2,036 gas outlets in Iowa. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.43 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Iowa during the past week, prices Sunday were $1.08 per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 31.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 18 cents per gallon during the last month and stands $1.09 per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

?After March came in like a lion at the pump, things are beginning to cool down, especially in hardest hit areas in the West,? said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst. ?While the West Coast will continue to see relief in the week ahead, motorists in the Great Lakes should be on high alert after refinery issues have developed, and as they see gasoline specifications improve ahead of the getting to the final ?summer gasoline? product that we often talk about. I would expect some volatility in gas prices in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin in the next two weeks due to this issues. Around the rest of the country, prices in some areas may drift higher with improved gasoline blends showing up as well, but its important to note that even with increases factored in, motorists are still seeing considerable savings versus gas prices last year,? DeHaan noted.

?Crude oil prices closed last week nearing their January lows on news of plentiful crude oil inventories, which maybe begin to weigh on gasoline prices, once refineries conclude maintenance and throttle up utilization rates. In the end, it could mean even lower gasoline prices for motorists during the summer than GasBuddy previously expected, barring other refinery issues or unpredictable issues,? DeHaan said.

States seeing the largest drop in gas prices versus one year ago:

Indiana, down $1.52 a gallon

Michigan, down $1.47 a gallon

Ohio, down $1.47 a gallon

Illinois, down $1.38 a gallon

Colorado, down $1.37 a gallon

States with the smallest drop in gas prices versus last year:

California, down 57 cents per gallon

Nevada, down 65 cents per gallon

Oregon, down 69 cents per gallon

Washington, down 74 cents per gallon

Alaska, down 93 cents per gallon