Hawaii's gas price average hits $4.50
Staff and News Services
Gasoline prices statewide have reached a new benchmark, hitting $4.50 a gallon, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
Hawai'i's statewide average rose 2 cents from a day earlier to reach the new high. It has risen $1.22 in the past year, an increase of 37 percent.
The new high ranks Hawai'i second in terms of highest state gasoline prices, and contrasts with the fall in prices that is happening nationally.
According to AAA figures, national prices reached a record of $4.114 for a gallon of regular on July 17 and have been trending downward since. Yesterday, the national average was $3.926. Alaska leads the country at an average of $4.648 a gallon.
Hawai'i prices have generally been slower to rise and slower to decline than those on the Mainland. Analysts said the price decline on the Mainland comes against the backdrop of the summer vacation season drawing to its Labor Day close with supplies still ample.
AAA's tracking of three metro areas in Hawai'i also shows:
AAA doesn't monitor gasoline prices on Kaua'i, Lana'i or Moloka'i.
Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
