BOISE, Idaho — Idaho drivers are beginning to see some relief at the pumps as gas prices continue to fall, with the statewide average now below the $5 mark.
The average cost of gas in Boise has fallen 15.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging at $4.94 per gallon, according to a new report from GasBuddy.
The price of gas in Boise is 38.6 cents less per gallon than a month ago, but $1.04 higher than a year ago. Diesel has also declined by 14.8 cents nationally in the last week, but still costs $5.27 per gallon on average.
The cheapest station in Boise was charging $4.77 per gallon of regular unleaded, while the most expensive was $5.29 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. Throughout the state, the lowest listed price was $4.25 per gallon and the highest was $5.98 per gallon, a difference of $1.73 per gallon.
Nationally, the average price of gas fell 15.9 cents per gallon, averaging $4.17 per gallon. The national average is down by 65.5 cents per gallon from a month ago, and $1.02 per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data.
AAA's daily survey, posted Monday morning, shows the counties with the lowest average prices are Benewah ($4.605), Lewis ($4.534) and Nez Perce ($4.445), all in north-central Idaho.
Boise County ($5.399) has the highest statewide average of any county in Idaho. Blaine County's average ($5.394) is just a half-cent lower.
Idaho gas prices as of 8/1/22:
Boise metro - $5.00
Coeur d'Alene - $4.67
Franklin - $4.87
Idaho Falls - $4.94
Lewiston - $4.45
Pocatello - $4.92
Rexburg - $4.95
Twin Falls - $4.94
Neighboring areas and their current average gas prices:
Utah - $4.84/g, down 10.2 cents per gallon from last week's $4.94/g.
Oregon - $5.05/g, down 11.3 cents per gallon from last week's $5.16/g.
"We continue to see average gas prices falling in every state, with the national average down for the seventh straight week," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "Even better, nearly 20 states have also seen their average decline to $3.99 or less, with over 70,000 stations now at that level or below."
Currently, the Gem State ranks 7th in the country for the most expensive fuel. Ahead of Idaho is California at $5.61, Hawaii at $5.44, Alaska at $5.09, Nevada at $5.08, Oregon at $5.07 and Washington at $5.01.
The cheapest fuel in the U.S. can be found in Texas at $3.71 per gallon.
"The outlook is for a continued drop in most areas, however, some supply tightness in areas of the Northeastern U.S. could push prices up slightly until inventories rise, or imports do," De Haan said. "For now, Americans are seeing prices nearly 90 cents lower than their mid-June peak and are spending close to $330 million less on gasoline every day as a result. As long as oil prices hold at these levels or lower, we'll see another decline in most areas this week."
According to AAA Idaho public affairs director, Matthew Conde, nearly two-thirds of Americans are changing their driving habits to combat the high gas prices.
"As we've seen this summer, there are still plenty of travelers in the air and on the road, but for some people, the pain of expensive fuel is just too much right now," Conde said. "Going to 'one-stop shops' where you can do banking, grocery shopping, and other activities without a lot of extra driving may help stretch your gas budget a little further."
According to a survey from AAA, 64% of adults in the U.S. say that they changed their driving habits since March when gas prices first skyrocketed, with 23% saying they made "major changes."
Some major changes included driving less (88%), combining errands (74%), and reducing shopping or dining out (56%). Of those surveyed, 30% said they have delayed making major purchases or postponed vacations, citing the higher gas prices as the main reason.
"Gas is now below $4 per gallon at nearly half of the gas stations around the country," Conde said. "That may entice some people who were previously undecided to make one last push to complete summer travel plans."
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