Gas prices back below $3 per gallon locally: Where are they headed?

Gas prices are down – not anywhere near $1.98 a gallon yet, but they are down.

GasBuddy has the national average at $3.08 a gallon, and the Virginia average is $2.95 a gallon.

Locally, drivers in Waynesboro are paying $2.90 a gallon on average, and the average in Staunton and Charlottesville is $2.95 a gallon.

The highest rate in our area is in Harrisonburg, where the average is $3.06 a gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Virginia was priced at $2.52 per gallon yesterday, while the most expensive was $3.79 per gallon.

The national average price of diesel has decreased 2.8 cents in the last week and stands at $3.47 per gallon, approaching the lowest tally since 2021.

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said prices “may see some minor fluctuations, but for now, I don’t expect any significant changes to the national average, with prices staying near their lowest seasonal level since 2021.”

“Even with oil prices jumping more than $4 per barrel compared to last week, the national average price of gasoline has resumed its decline as refineries wrap up seasonal maintenance and prepare to boost output,” De Haan said.