While gasoline prices have dropped closed to $2 in several states, they remain above $3 for the average price of a gallon of regular in two states. Alaska and Hawaii have special circumstances that keep their prices high — very high. The average price of a gallon of gas in Alaska is $3.18. In Hawaii, the figure is $3.58.
By way of contrast, average gas prices are below $2.04 in Oklahoma and Missouri, according to GasBuddy. These two states have low state gas taxes and are relatively near the large refineries close to Houston. Oklahoma’s gas tax is 46th among all states at $0.17 per gallon. Missouri’s is 45th at $0.173. The state with the highest gas tax is New York at $0.506 in 2013, according to the Tax Foundation.
Alaska may have an abundance of oil, but the distance between Anchorage and Houston, as an illustration, is 3,200 miles. Transportation, along with gas taxes and the price of oil, make up the majority of the effects on gas prices. Although Alaska has the lowest gas tax in the United States at $0.08, this is nowhere near low enough to offset the distance problem.
Hawaii’s situation is much worse than Alaska’s. The price of gas on the islands is the third highest among the states at $0.471. Hawaii has to get its gasoline from across the Pacific, either from Asia or the west coast of America. The distance from Hawaii to San Francisco is more than 2,300 miles. The distance from Hawaii to Tokyo is over 4,000 miles.
Gas prices in Hawaii are falling, but the dip is relative. According to Hawaii 24/7:
Including the change in gas prices in Hawaii during the past week, prices yesterday were 6.4 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 15.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 21.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 49.9 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
Even on the relative basis, Hawaii’s disadvantage is massive.
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