After a strong start over Memorial Day weekend, demand for gasoline has since fizzled. Demand over the past four weeks is trending 149,000 barrels a day — which is below the same period last year according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Last week, the EIA reported demand settled at a lackluster 8.48 million barrels a day — a decline of 670,000 barrels a day from the previous week, and 300,000 lower than the comparable week of 2024.
The weak demand has contributed to a notable buildup in gasoline inventories. Nationally, inventories climbed 3.4 million barrels last week, the EIA reported. Regional supplies in the Northeast grew to 63.1 million barrels in total — 6.7 million barrels above last year.
Supply and demand dynamics are keeping fuel prices in check even as markets react to geopolitical events around the world that typically put upward pressure on prices. Last week, the European Union said it will impose stricter sanctions on Russian oil exports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and drone attacks targeting oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan disrupted more than half of the country’s oil production.
“The dog days of summer are delivering lower gas prices this year,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “Pump prices across the Northeast are nearly 50 cents cheaper than last year and in a price range we haven’t seen for this time of year since 2021.”
AAA Northeast’s July 21 survey of fuel prices found the national average down a penny from last week ($3.15), averaging $3.14 per gallon. The national average price was 7 cents lower than a month ago ($3.21) and 36 cents lower than this day last year ($3.50).
| Region | Current Price* | One Week Ago | One Month Ago | One Year Ago |
| Connecticut | $3.12 | $3.13 | $3.16 | $3.58 |
| Massachusetts | $3.05 | $3.06 | $3.07 | $3.50 |
| New Jersey | $3.05 | $3.07 | $3.14 | $3.43 |
| New York | $3.17 | $3.17 | $3.20 | $3.62 |
| Rhode Island | $3.03 | $3.03 | $3.06 | $3.45 |
*Prices as of July 21, 2025
As of July 21, Mississippi and Oklahoma had the lowest prices in the nation at $2.71 and $2.74, respectively. California and Hawaii held the highest prices in the nation at $4.49 and $4.46, respectively.
The AAA Gas Prices website is your resource for up-to-date fuel price information. Search for average gas prices on national, state and metro levels by regular, plus, premium and diesel.
