As motorists begin hitting the road for Labor Day, they’re likely to see $4-plus prices for gasoline, at least in Western Washington.
The News Tribune’s Gas Deal Finder is reporting an average price for a gallon of unleaded regular Thursday in the South Sound is $4.038 a gallon. That price is down only slightly since Wednesday.
A week ago, the price per gallon was $4.018 a gallon.
If prices follow the traditional pattern, they’ll begin falling after the holiday. That’s when vacation travel drops because school resumes.
If you’re bargain-hunting before your trip, gas was still available for $3.85 a gallon at Fife’s APP station and for $3.87 a gallon at the Arco at 104th Street East and Portland Ave.
In Olympia, the least expensive gas Thursday was $3.85 a gallon at the Arco on Martin Way East and Ranger Drive S.E.
The rest of the nation is seeing sharp increases in gas prices in the wake of Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf which shut down offshore oil rigs and flooded at least one refinery. The average price nationwide is now $3.803 a gallon.
john.gillie@ thenewstribune.com
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