Gas prices falling despite Middle East crisis uncertainty

Drivers are continuing to see lower prices at the pump when they go to fill up. Were it not for uncertainty about the Middle East, gas price analysts with the American Automobile Association, or AAA, believe the current price free fall could be steeper.

As of Oct. 19, the national average price of regular unleaded had fallen eight cents since last week to $3.56. Pump prices have lost 32 cents since their 2023 peak of $3.88 a month ago. This means drivers are saving about $5 every time they fuel up.

“While gas prices are falling about a penny a day, that feels like a glacial pace,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “The oil market is watching to see if the war between Israel and Hamas widens, so the price is stuck at a rather elevated price in the mid-$80s per barrel. This, in turn, is slowing the decline in gas prices.”

According to AAA on Saturday, Oct. 21, the national average price for regular unleaded was $3.554. Mississippi’s average price was $3.038, which was nearly five cents lower than a week ago and just over 25 cents lower than a month ago and about 26 cents lower than a year ago.

Triple-A groups Southaven and Olive Branch together as a metro area and reported the average gas price there is $2.952, cheaper than other Mississippi metro areas except for Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula.
The Southaven-Olive Branch price is four cents less than a week ago and 34.4 cents less than a month ago. The average price is 36.1 cents less than one year ago.

California is the state with the highest average price at $5.459, followed by Washington, Hawaii, Nevada and Oregon.

Georgia is the state with the cheapest average price at $3.019, followed by Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and Louisiana.

You can find the lowest gas prices in DeSoto County by heading to the GasBuddy.com website.