Gas Prices Rise .4 Cents In Chattanooga

Average retail gasoline prices in Chattanooga have risen 0.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.19 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga. This compares with the national average that has fallen 0.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.20 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Chattanooga during the past week, prices on Sunday were 26.0 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 17.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

The national average has decreased 1 cent per gallon during the last month and stands 8.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on Sept. 26 in Chattanooga have ranged widely over the last five years:
$1.93 in 2015, $3.05 in 2014, $3.14 in 2013, $3.55 in 2012, and $3.28 in 2011.

Areas nearby Chattanooga and their current gas price climate:
Knoxville- $2.07, up 2.1 cents per gallon from last week's $2.05.
State of Tennessee- $2.16, up 2.1 cents per gallon from last week's $2.14.
Huntsville- $2.14, up 5.1 cents per gallon from last week's $2.09.

Overall, gas prices across the U.S. begin the week moving lower in 40 of 50 states.

"It's been almost a week since service has been restored to Colonial Pipeline's Line #1, a major gasoline source for the southeast and Atlantic seaboard..." said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. "While it appears that retail gas prices have peaked in 4 of the 6 states hit hardest (AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA) by the pipeline damage & shutdown, and those averages are now ebbing lower, statewide averages continue to climb in two states: Tennessee ($2.16/gal) and Virginia ($2.10/gal). Those states' averages were at $2.14 and $2.08 respectively on Sept. 20, the day before service was restored.

"While it appears that the worst may be behind us, we're not out of the woods yet, where gasoline inventory levels are concerned," he said. "The overall drop in gasoline inventory tied to Colonial Pipeline was approximately 8.5 million barrels. To put that in perspective, in the two weeks following Hurricane Katrina, east coast gasoline inventories shed 3.3 million barrels."