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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Gas prices drop 9 cents in a week

Fishing guide Pete Paolino negotiates his jet boat through a rough rapid on the Snake River near the Washington-Oregon border as he shuttles his anglers to another steelhead fishing hole. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)
Fishing guide Pete Paolino negotiates his jet boat through a rough rapid on the Snake River near the Washington-Oregon border as he shuttles his anglers to another steelhead fishing hole. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)

HUNTING/FISHING -- Declining fuel prices are good news for hunters in the peak of the fall seasons as well as for steelhead anglers pulling boats to the big rivers:

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has dropped for 18 straight days to a national average of $3.20 a gallon, according to American Automobile Association surveys.

Pacific states as well as Idaho are still among the most expensive regions for purchasing gas, but Washington ranks third in the nation for the rate of fuel-price drop in the past month.

The national price represents a 2014 low and is the lowest average for the Columbus Day holiday since 2010 when gas averaged $2.81 a gallon, AAA reports.

Today’s average price is nine cents less than one week ago, 20 cents less than one month ago and 15 cents less than one year ago.

Drivers in six states are paying an average price below three dollars per gallon to refuel their vehicles with eight additional states posting prices within a nickel of this mark.

  • Missouri has the lowest gas price average per gallon: $2.90.
  • Hawaii has the highest: $4.13.
  • California has the highest in the continental U.S.:  $3.60.
  • New York and Oregon both are at $3.52.
  • Washington's average is $3.51. That’s 11 cents lower than a week ago and down 33 cents in a month. But it’s 31 cents higher than the national average.
  • Idaho's average is $3.46, although Coeur d'Alene is well below the average at $3.23
  • Montana's average is $3.39, with prices significantly  lower -- $3.17 -- at Superior on I-90 60 miles west of Missoula.

Washington metro prices from today’s AAA survey include:

Bellingham $3.57, Bremerton $3.35, Seattle-Bellevue-Everett $3.61, Tacoma $3.43, Olympia $3.45, Vancouver $3.50, Yakima $3.49, Tri-Cities $3.49, and Spokane $3.44.

 

 

 

Rich Landers

Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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