Gas station prices in Utah, while down, are still higher than other states
Monday’s median price of $3,859 was 7% lower than a month ago and 26% lower than Utah gasoline prices a year ago, but still 9% higher than the national average.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Motorists queue at a gas station in Lehi on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
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Gasoline in Utah is among the most expensive in the country, although prices are falling.
According to AAA, the median price per gallon Monday was $3,859, up 8.9% from the national average of $3,543.
The cost of gas transportation is a major reason Utah is among the top 10 states for gas purchases, said Julian Paredes, a spokesman for the AAA’s Mountain West Group.
Most of the gas in Utah and other western states is transported through the Rocky Mountains, he said. Utah also gets much of its gas from Colorado, he said, adding that refining and production taxes are pushing up the price.
Still, gasoline prices in Utah have fallen “quite a bit” in the last month, Paredes said.
The median price on Monday was $3,859, down 7.3% from a month ago and 25.7% from a year ago.
Gasoline prices also fell in major cities across the state, with prices falling the most in the Provo-Orem area and the least in and around St. George over the past month.
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AAA expects gasoline prices to fluctuate for a few weeks after hitting record July 4 travel numbers, Paredes said.
Pump prices could rise in the short term, he said, and then fluctuate somewhat depending on demand.
If people want to save at the pump, they should make sure to keep up with their car’s maintenance and properly inflate their tires to reduce fuel consumption, Paredes said.
Slowing down is also good for mileage and overall safety, he said.
It’s also important where people fill up, Paredes said. Prices can vary from county to county, city to city and train station to train station, he said.
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Gas is generally cheaper in northern Utah and more expensive in the state’s southern counties, he said.
People can use phone applications to find station-specific pricing, and AAA.com offers pricing by county and city.
