Gas prices tick up nationally, but Virginia drivers paying less at the pump

Gas prices in Virginia are down 3.4 cents per gallon from where they were a week ago, averaging $3.38 a gallon at the start of the business day on Monday, according to GasBuddy.

Prices nationwide are up a tick, 0.7 cents per gallon, to $3.47 per gallon.

The national average price of diesel has fallen 1.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.78 per gallon.

The reason for the “mixed bag,” in the words of GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan:

“States in the Great Lakes region are still being jolted by the Joliet, Ill., refinery outage, which has also impacted gas prices in some areas of Canada, while areas like the West Coast continue to see notable declines,” De Haan said.

Near-term outlook

“With the summer winding down and GasBuddy data showing disappointing gasoline demand and struggling oil prices, we could eventually see the national average falling a bit more, especially once the refinery in Illinois restarts operations,” De Haan said.

“While hurricane season hasn’t been a factor yet, it’s also just starting to get into its prime, and that does remain a quiet wildcard for now.”