Gasoline prices in Louisiana have climbed by 4.8 cents per gallon over the past week, averaging $2.70 per gallon as of today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,436 stations across the state. Compared to a month ago, prices are up 7.2 cents per gallon and remain 0.4 cents higher than the same time last year.
The national average for gasoline has also increased, rising by 6.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.09 per gallon. Diesel prices saw an even larger jump nationally, increasing by 8.1 cents to $3.606 per gallon.
Price Variations Across Louisiana
The cost of gas in Louisiana continues to show significant variation. The lowest price reported yesterday was $2.39 per gallon, while the highest was $3.30 per gallon—a difference of 91 cents.
Neighboring cities reported the following averages:
- Baton Rouge: $2.70 per gallon, up 2.7 cents from last week.
- Jackson, Miss.: $2.66 per gallon, up 8.6 cents from last week.
- New Orleans: $2.72 per gallon, up 1.9 cents from last week.
Historical Context
Gasoline prices in Louisiana and nationwide have fluctuated significantly over the past decade. Notable comparisons include:
- January 20, 2024: $2.70 per gallon in Louisiana; $3.07 per gallon nationally.
- January 20, 2019: $1.96 per gallon in Louisiana; $2.24 per gallon nationally.
- January 20, 2015: $1.88 per gallon in Louisiana; $2.04 per gallon nationally.
Analysis and Outlook
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, attributed the recent price increases to a combination of rising oil prices, heightened heating oil demand due to cold weather, and anticipated policy impacts with President Trump’s inauguration.
“It was only a matter of time before the national average began to rise, with oil prices last week reaching their highest level since July,” said De Haan. “We’ll be monitoring potential impacts from any executive orders while keeping an eye on seasonal trends, which are likely to push prices higher in the coming weeks.”
GasBuddy, a trusted authority on fuel pricing, provides real-time updates and historical data from nearly 150,000 stations nationwide. More information is available at GasBuddy.com.