Gas prices set to hit the lowest they've been since 2021, AAA says

U.S. residents lamenting soaring gas prices may soon be able to relax as the national average for gas is set to hit its lowest rate in 3 ½ years, according to a new announcement from AAA.

AAA made the announcement Thursday morning and as of Tuesday, the national average for a gallon of gas is $3.01, company spokesperson Andrew Gross confirmed to USA TODAY.

“32 states already have an average below or well below $3,” Gross said in a news release AAA posted on Thursday. “Hockley County, Texas appears to have the lowest county average, at $2.30.”

The last time the national average was below $3 was in May 2021, AAA said in its announcement last week.

Also noted is that between the end of November and early December, gasoline demand rose slightly from 8.5 million barrels per day to 8.73 barrels per day, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

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Which states have the most expensive gas? The cheapest?

According to AAA, the national average gas prices on Tuesday came in at $3.01 for regular gas, $3.49 for mid-grade, $3.84 for premium, $3.51 for diesel and $2.42 for E85.

AAA keeps track of gas price averages in each state on its website. On average, regular gas was the most expensive in the following states Tuesday:

• Hawaii – $4.56
• California – $4.36
• Washington – $3.96
• Nevada – $3.63
• Oregon – $3.49
• Alaska – $3.42
• Pennsylvania – $3.27
• District of Columbia – $3.23
• Arizona – $3.17
• Illinois – $3.16
• New York – $3.15
• Vermont – $3.12
• Florida – $3.11
• Maine – $3.05
• Connecticut – $3.05

States with the cheapest gas on average Tuesday include:

• Oklahoma – $2.52
• Texas – $2.60
• Mississippi – $2.60
• Arkansas – $2.61
• Kansas – $2.66
• Tennessee – $2.67
• Missouri – $2.68
• Kentucky – $2.70
• Iowa – $2.70
• Louisiana – $2.70
• Wisconsin – $2.72
• South Carolina – $2.73
• Alabama – $2.73
• Nebraska – $2.74
• New Mexico – $2.76

I drive an electric vehicle. What’s the average for me?

AAA also mentioned some notable numbers for drivers whose vehicles are powered by electricity. As of Tuesday afternoon, the national average for a kilowatt of electricity at a public EV charging station was 35 cents.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the states with the most expensive daily average electric charging rates include:

• Hawaii – 57 cents
• Montana – 45 cents
• West Virginia – 44 cents
• New Hampshire – 43 cents
• Idaho – 42 cents
• Arkansas – 42 cents
• Kentucky – 42 cents
• South Carolina – 42 cents
• Alaska – 41 cents
• Oklahoma – 41 cents
• Louisiana – 41 cents
• Tennessee – 41 cents
• Mississippi – 40 cents
• Nevada – 40 cents
• Connecticut –  40 cents

Lastly, the cheapest states for charging Tuesday afternoon came in at:

• Kansas – 22 cents
• Missouri – 25 cents
• Nebraska – 25 cents
• Delaware – 27 cents
• Texas – 28 cents
• District of Columbia – 29 cents
• Utah – 29 cents
• North Dakota –29 cents
• Vermont – 30 cents
• Iowa – 31 cents
• Michigan – 31 cents
• Maryland – 31 cents
• Massachusetts –31 cents
• South Dakota – 31 cents
• Colorado – 32 cents 

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia–the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartinor email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.

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