Analysts paint grim picture for state gasoline prices

The average price of gasoline in the United States Tuesday, $3.26 per gallon, has declined significantly in recent months but still remains 21.3 cents per gallon higher than the U.S. average price recorded last year at this time.

“As 2011 has come to a close, that’s cause for concern,” says Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. “Why? For the past seven years, the average price movement from the beginning of the year to the peak price posted during the year has been $0.93 cents per gallon, and as high as $1.31 per gallon.

“Last year was actually a good snapshot of what we’ve seen for the past seven years. 2010 ended with the national average at $3.05 and we saw the annual spring 2011 climb push the national average 91 cents higher to its peak level as early as May 11 when it reached $3.96 per gallon,” Laskoski said.

Wisconsin average “start price” to peak retail gasoline prices in recent years:

2007: Start Price: $2.32/g on 1/1/2007. Peak Price: $3.45/g on 5/23/2007 Difference: 113.9 cents per gallon.

2008: Start Price: $3.07/g on 1/1/2008. Peak Price: $4.12/g on 7/15/2008 Difference: 105.3 cents per gallon.

2009: Start Price: $1.70/g on 1/1/2009. Peak Price: $2.82/g on 6/6/2009 Difference: 112.2 cents per gallon.

2010: Start Price: $2.68/g on 1/1/2010. Peak Price: $3.08/g on 12/28/2010 Difference: 40.7 cents per gallon.

2011: Start Price: $3.07/g on 1/1/2011. Peak Price: $4.12/g on 5/4/2011 Difference: 105.0 cents per gallon.

“In three of the last seven years, the spread between the yearly starting price and the peak exceeded $1 per gallon and only once in the past seven years was the spread below .82 cents per gallon,” said Patrick DeHaan, another analyst with GasBuddy. “And, while we typically anticipate peak prices to occur in the midst of the summer driving season, sometimes the peak can even come after summer has concluded, as was the case nationally during 2006 and 2009. While past performance is no indication of future prices, if the national average doesn’t move closer toward or under $3 per gallon by the year’s end, we could be paying over $4 per gallon next spring.”