Gas prices remain low, but summer driving is likely to bring a rise

Gas prices have dropped on average 2.2 cents in the past week in the area, according to fuel price monitoring site GasBuddy.com.

On Monday, the average price in Tacoma for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.306, according to Tacomagasprices.com. The lowest price listed was $1.99 at the APP station at 2401 70th Ave E. and 26th Street East. In Olympia, the lowest price, according to Washingtongasprices.com, was $2.06 at the APP station at 1312 Fones Road S.E.

Prices are more than 40 cents a gallon lower than this time in 2015, according to Gasbuddy, but 12 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has risen 15.6 cents a gallon during the past month.

Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, noted: “We've been fortunate that 2016 delivered a successful and largely uneventful transition by refineries to the ‘summer blend’ fuel formulation. Concurrent output through March and early April matches levels not seen since 2005. So the healthy inventory in advance of demand has helped flatten prices, but we don’t expect that to last when summer travel kicks into high gear.”

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Gas prices remain low, but summer driving is likely to bring a rise."