Westwood, MA, December 20, 2021 — Massachusetts’s average gas price is down 1 cent from last week ($3.40), averaging $3.39 per gallon. Today’s price is 3 cents lower than a month ago ($3.42), and $1.23 higher than December 20, 2020 ($2.16). Massachusetts’s average gas price is 9 cents higher than the national average.
Gasoline demand surged last week, buoyed by increased pre-holiday consumer confidence. But fears of the COVID-19 omicron variant’s economic impact may threaten future global oil consumption. As a result, pump prices fell again last week as crude oil prices wobbled—neither rising steadily nor falling rapidly. The national average for a gallon of gas dipped three cents to $3.30.
“A recovering economy coupled with strong employment is leading to increased demand for gasoline,” says Mary Maguire, Director of Public/Government Affairs. “This demand increase should drive pump prices higher, but it’s been blunted by the wavering price of crude oil.”
AAA Northeast’s December 20 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 3 cents lower than last week ($3.33), averaging $3.30 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 11 cents lower than a month ago ($3.41), and $1.09 higher than this day last year ($2.21).
| Region | Current Price* | One Week Ago | One Month Ago | One Year Ago | |||||
| Massachusetts | $3.39 | $3.40 | $3.42 | $2.16 | |||||
| Rhode Island | $3.39 | $3.39 | $3.43 | $2.16 | |||||
| Connecticut | $3.51 | $3.52 | $3.55 | $2.22 |
