Drivers in Dade, Catoosa, and Walker counties are seeing some of the lowest gas prices in the state this week, with the regional average for regular unleaded fuel sitting at $2.82 per gallon, according to data released Monday.
The tri-county area joins Valdosta ($2.81) and Rome ($2.79) as the most affordable metro regions in Georgia when it comes to fuel prices. In contrast, Savannah continues to hold the top spot for the most expensive gas in the state at $3.02 per gallon, followed by Hinesville-Fort Stewart at $2.95 and Macon at $2.93.
Statewide, gas prices saw only a minor uptick this week, with the Georgia average rising one cent to $2.90 per gallon. That figure remains unchanged from last month and is four cents lower than this time last year. Filling up a 15-gallon tank now costs Georgia drivers about $43.50—nearly a dollar less than in September 2024.
Nationally, the average gas price also increased by one cent to $3.18. Drivers on the West Coast experienced a noticeable spike in prices, particularly in Oregon and Washington, where a pipeline outage drove prices upward. Meanwhile, prices in the Plains and the South remain relatively low by comparison.
According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 9.3 million barrels last week. Inventories are now about 5% below the five-year average for this time of year, with crude settling at $64.05 per barrel.
In the electric vehicle sector, the national average price for charging at public EV stations remained steady at 36 cents per kilowatt-hour.
As fall approaches and travel demand begins to ease, experts anticipate only minor changes at the pump in the near future.