(The Center Square)—Transportation energy costs in North Carolina mirror the midsummer holiday a month ago.
Monday morning’s average cost for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline was $2.87 statewide, within tenths of the same as a month ago and just a penny higher than Dec. 31. It remains more than a quarter below the national average despite one of the nation’s highest at-the-pump fuel taxes.
One year ago, the average was $3.25.
For diesel, the average of $3.54 per gallon is up 4 cents from a month ago and down from $3.74 last year at this time.
Three years ago in the second week of August, North Carolina’s averages were $3.68 for unleaded and $4.97 for diesel. State lawmakers’ push that year for a $200 rebate to taxpayers ultimately died in committee.
The national averages are $3.15 for unleaded and $3.72 for diesel. Those are down from $3.47 and $3.79, respectively, at this time of year.
Per Environmental Protection Agency rules in place from June 1 to Sept. 15, the less volatile summer blend fuel must be sold. Price impact is generally considered 10 cents to 15 cents higher per gallon.
Combustion engine consumers make up more than 8 million vehicle registrations in the nation’s ninth-largest state.
North Carolina’s electric vehicle charging rate average, according to AAA, is 33.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average is 36.7 cents per kWh. More than 100,000 zero-emission vehicles are registered in the state. At the start of the calendar year, the state norm was 33.5 cents per kWh and the national was 34.7 cents per kWh.
Eleven states have lower average prices for a gallon of unleaded; 17 are lower for diesel; and seven are lower in electric.
Among 14 major metro areas, the least expensive average for unleaded gas is in Fayetteville at $2.75. The most expensive area is the Durham-Chapel Hill metro (each $2.93).
Diesel is the most consumer-friendly ($3.39) in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton.
North Carolina’s 40.3 cents per gallon tax rate for 2025 is topped by California (59.6), Pennsylvania (57.6), Washington (49.4), Illinois (47), Maryland (46.1), and New Jersey (44.9).
Motor fuel taxes in the state fund the Department of Transportation’s highway and multi-modal projects, accounting for more than half of the state transportation resources. The revenues go into the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund.
