Iowa’s weekly fuel update and outlook

Gasoline prices in Iowa have risen 2.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.10/g, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 2,036 stations in Iowa. This compares with the national average that has increased 0.6 cents per gallon versus last week to $2.24/g, according to GasBuddy.
Average gasoline prices Jan. 21 in Iowa have ranged widely over the last five years: $2.53/g in 2018, $2.36/g in 2017, $1.87/g in 2016, $1.92/g in 2015 and $3.18/g in 2014.
Including the change locally during the past week, prices yesterday were 42.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago and are 1.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has dropped 10.4 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 29.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
Areas near Iowa and their current gas price climate:
Quad Cities—$2.02/g, down 1.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.04/g.
Des Moines—$2.22/g, unchanged  from last week’s $2.22/g.
Omaha, Neb.—$2.09/g, up 2.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.07/g.
“The national average price for gasoline has seen little change in the last week in most areas, but this period remains the calm ahead of the storm, especially if China’s trade deal pans out into a larger trade agreement with the U.S.,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “The transition to summer gasoline, a three month process, will begin in the weeks ahead, so the current period is still the calm before the storm. If a broad trade agreement with China does come to pass, that will enhance the normal rise of 35-75 cents per gallon that we see nationally from February’s low prices to Memorial Day weekend’s prices—so what you see today will likely feel like a completely different world than what we expect near Memorial Day.”
For LIVE fuel price averages, visit http://FuelInsights.GasBuddy.com.