Grinch-like gas prices for Christmas

GasBuddy, a website that monitors gas prices, on Tuesday projected average Christmas Day gas prices will be their highest since 2013. However, there’s some good news — average gas prices have fallen in every state in the last month as demand for gasoline cools off with winter returning in full force, led by states in the Great Lakes which have seen drops of more than 15 cents per gallon in recent weeks.

GasBuddy projects the national average gas price this Christmas will be $2.39 per gallon, a 12-cent drop since Thanksgiving, but the priciest Christmas in four years (2013: $3.26), and 11 cents higher than Christmas last year. Nearly 3,300 days have passed since prices on Christmas Day averaged under $2 per gallon, a feat last accomplished in 2008 when the average was $1.63 per gallon. Overall, while gas prices stand at higher seasonal levels than prior years, they remain relatively low. On Christmas Day 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, average gas prices were more than $3 per gallon.

“It’s hard to be completely happy with gas prices dropping slightly in recent weeks when we’re going to see the most expensive Christmas at the pump in years, but what we’re seeing now really pales in comparison to the holidays when we pulled up to a pump that was over $3 per gallon,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

As of Tuesday morning, Costco, Carson City Gas at 1600 N. Carson St. and Gas and Save at 1360 Carson St. all had the lowest gas price in Carson City at $2.25 per gallon. The average gas price in Nevada was $2.64 per gallon.