Roanoke sees minimal change in gas prices while diesel costs rise nationwide
Roanoke, Virginia – Gas prices in Roanoke have shown minimal change over the past week, averaging $2.85 per gallon based on the most recent survey by GasBuddy, which examined 155 nearby stations. This stability in pricing comes even as the broader national landscape sees fluctuations, particularly in the diesel sector.
Though there has been a minor rise of 1.1 cents from the same period last year, the survey found that the average gas price from the preceding month remained the same. Diesel prices have seen a more notable nationwide climb; last week’s increase of 3.7 cents brings the average to $3.525 per gallon.
On Sunday, local drivers paid the lowest price for gasoline—$2.64 per gallon—while the highest was noted at $3.09 per gallon—a significant 45-cent variation. The lowest gas price in Virginia was $2.39; the highest skyrocketing to $3.79 per gallon, showing a clear $1.40 per gallon difference.
The national viewpoint provides a counterpoint; the average gasoline price throughout the country declines somewhat by 1.1 cents to $3.02 per gallon. Looking against last year’s statistics, this number is somewhat higher by 0.9 cents and lower by 3.2 cents than it was one month ago.
“It’s been a relatively quiet week for the national average price of gasoline, with little overall movement. However, colder weather has pushed diesel prices higher and could also impact gasoline prices if refiners face disruptions,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
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He went on to say that geopolitical developments, such as additional sanctions impacting oil sales, could soon have more obvious impact on gas prices. De Haan cautioned drivers about the approaching season of refinery maintenance, which would lower gasoline output and cause price hikes.
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Historically, Roanoke’s gasoline prices have fluctuated; last year, on January 13, the cost per gallon was $3.06, more than it is now by 21 cents. Prices have ranged from as low as $1.78 in 2016 to as high as $3.06 in both 2022 and 2023 when looking back over the past ten years. The ten-year trend emphasizes the unpredictable character of fuel prices impacted by several geopolitical and economic aspects.
Gas prices in surrounding areas have similarly seen very little change. Winston-Salem had a minor drop of 0.5 cents; Greensboro recorded a small rise of 0.4 cents, therefore bringing their average to $2.84 per gallon. Virginia’s total average moved higher by 0.9 cents to $2.94 a gallon.
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As residents of Roanoke and surrounding areas watch these trends, the coming weeks may reveal more about the direction of fuel costs as the market responds to both seasonal influences and international developments.