Six States See Lowest Gas Prices in Over a Decade, a Dozen Have Sub-$1 Gas Available

Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, see lowest gas prices in roughly 6,000 days; Minnesota and Illinois selling gas for less than a cup of coffee

BOSTON – GasBuddy, the travel and navigation app that is used by millions of drivers to save money on gas, reports that six states have surpassed their lowest average gas prices in over a decade, while five of those states are seeing the lowest prices since the early 2000’s. In the case of Wisconsin, gas prices haven’t been this low in 6,621 days. 

STATES WITH LOWEST AVERAGE PRICES IN OVER A DECADE

Examining millions of fuel transactions from the company’s Pay with GasBuddy program, gasoline demand plummeted in Q1 as Americans across the country were ordered to stay home in light of COVID-19. The most recent data is even steeper, with transactions in April showing that gasoline demand has eroded by 50-70% over levels in late February and early March, with millions of Americans continuing to follow stay-at-home orders and not venturing out on the road. 

In addition to some states seeing the lowest prices in over a decade, GasBuddy counts over a dozen states that now have low prices under $1 per gallon: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin.

"To have thought at the beginning of the year we’d be in the place we are would truly have been impossible, new and multi-year records continue to be written when it comes to gasoline prices,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “It’s staggering to know that in five of these six states we haven’t seen these gasoline prices in over 15 years, and for many of us, we watch from the living room window, adhering to the orders to stay at home. But there is strong potential that we will see gas prices this summer far lower than our previous expectations, and I’m hopeful by then we’re safely able to enjoy it.”

Surpassing the low prices from the Great Recession

GasBuddy believes the chances are good that the national average may eventually drop under the 2008/2009 low as well. Today’s average of $1.79/gal would need to drop roughly 20 more cents per gallon to best the low prices from that period.

While the rest of states are currently near four year lows, there are signs too, that many more states will eventually test decade lows. “I fully expect that as many as half of the nation’s states will ultimately see prices fall to at least decade lows, with perhaps most of them ultimately falling to lows not seen since the early 2000’s,” DeHaan said.

About GasBuddy

For budget-minded drivers, GasBuddy is the travel and navigation app that is used by more North American drivers to save money on gas than any other. Unlike fuel retailer apps, as well as newer apps focused on fuel savings, GasBuddy covers 150,000+ gas stations in North America, giving drivers 27 ways to save on fuel. That’s why GasBuddy has been downloaded nearly 90mm times – more than any other travel and navigation app focused on gas savings. GasBuddy’s publishing and software businesses enable the world’s leading fuel, convenience, QSR and CPG companies to shorten the distance between the North American fueling public and their brands. For more information, visit www.gasbuddy.com.