(The Center Square) – The average price of a gallon of unleaded gas is down to $2.56 Monday in Wisconsin and the national average is $2.90, according to GasBuddy.
Gas prices across the country are expected to remain low heading into the new year barring any “major disruptions,” according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at the Dallas-headquartered technology company known for crowd-sourcing in the convenience retailer industry.
“Gas prices continued to decline in most states last week, while some price-cycling states saw temporary spikes to restore margins,” De Haan wrote Monday. “With the national average falling further, we’re now at multi-year lows heading into Christmas. Diesel prices are also easing, and in the cheapest cities, averages have dipped into the low-$2 range, with a few stations still offering gas under $2 per gallon.”
Wisconsin’s average is down from the $2.73 average heading into Thanksgiving.
The state average was $2.70 a year ago.
Wisconsin’s lowest reported gas prices are $2.33 at Costco in New Berlin and $2.34 at a Citgo and Exxon in Kenosha. Several stations offer $2.35 across Wauwatosa, Pewaukee, West Allis and South Milwaukee.
De Haan wrote that the country’s most common gas price and the median price are $2.74 with five states averaging below $2.50, 22 below $2.75 and 37 below $3 per gallon.
Wisconsin’s 32.9-cent gas tax ranks 20th in the country.
The average price in neighboring Illinois is $2.90 per gallon while Michigan is $2.79 and Minnesota $2.82. Michigan’s average price has dropped 13 cents over the past week.
California has the highest average at $4.41 and Oklahoma has the lowest at $2.30.