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DENVER (March 7, 2022) - Colorado's gas prices skyrocketed last week to their highest levels since June 2013, with prices rising an average of nearly 40 cents over the span of a week - reaching an average price of $3.75 on Monday evening. At this rate, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in Colorado is on track to exceed the $4.09 record set in July 2008.
$3.75 also marks the price point, per AAA survey data , where a majority of Coloradans (64%) adjust their driving habits - either by driving less often, driving shorter distances, combining trips, driving slower speeds to conserve fuel, and more.
The U.S. price for oil settled at a 14-year high of $119.4 per barrel today, which is up $3.72 from Friday. Last week's $24 spike in the price of crude oil translates to a 60-cent increase in pump prices, with an additional 10 cent hike anticipated from the increase over Friday alone. In the immediate term, then, Coloradans should anticipate prices to rise an additional 30 cents this week, at minimum.
"Unfortunately, we can say with certainty that more price hikes are on the way - and Coloradans may soon begin to see record high prices at every fill up," said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. "Chalk it up to the extraordinary times we've been living through. The pandemic fundamentally tightened the global crude oil market. Set against that backdrop, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has severely limited Russia's ability to sell its oil globally, further straining supply."
Impact of Public Policy
A bipartisan agreement announced by Congressional leaders on Monday to ban imports of Russian oil is not expected, on its own, to lead to further price increases - given that the United States only imports about 3% of its crude oil from Russia, and many domestic energy traders have already stopped buying Russian barrels.
A European Union ban on Russian imports could send global crude prices even higher. That's not expected in the near term due to the 27-nation bloc's heavy reliance on Russia's crude supply.
Last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced a coordinated release of crude oil from its 31 member countries' strategic reserves, including the U.S., Germany, Canada, South Korea, and Mexico, to help counter the impact of rising crude prices. On Friday, IEA said member states committed to releasing a total of 61.7 million barrels from their strategic reserves to reassure markets roiled by the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This amount - half of which is expected to come from the U.S. - is the largest coordinated release since IEA was founded in 1974. The overall impact on pricing will be limited given that the amount of oil planned for release is small in comparison to the amount that flows daily from Russia to other countries around the globe.
Quick Stats
The nation's top 10 largest weekly increases: Rhode Island (+58 cents), Nevada (+57 cents), Connecticut (+56 cents), Kentucky (+56 cents), Alabama (+56 cents), West Virginia (+55 cents), Virginia (+55 cents), Massachusetts (+54 cents), New Hampshire (+52 cents) and New Jersey (+52 cents).
The nation's top 10 most expensive markets: California ($5.34), Hawaii ($4.69), Nevada ($4.59), Oregon ($4.51), Washington ($4.44), Alaska ($4.39), Illinois ($4.30), Connecticut ($4.28), New York ($4.26) and Pennsylvania ($4.23).
Colorado Gas By the Numbers (Low to High)
Greeley
• Current Average: $3.67
• Yesterday Average: $3.65
• Week Ago Average: $3.27
• Month Ago Average: $3.22
• Year Ago Average: $2.70
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.09 (7/17/08)
Denver
• Current Average: $3.71
• Yesterday Average: $3.70
• Week Ago Average: $3.30
• Month Ago Average: $3.24
• Year Ago Average: $2.70
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.00 (7/17/08)
Boulder - Longmont
• Current Average: $3.72
• Yesterday Average: $3.71
• Week Ago Average: $3.29
• Month Ago Average: $3.24
• Year Ago Average: $2.72
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.05 (7/18/08)
Fort Collins - Loveland
• Current Average: $3.73
• Yesterday Average: $3.69
• Week Ago Average: $3.33
• Month Ago Average: $3.30
• Year Ago Average: $2.68
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.04 (7/6/08)
Colorado Springs
• Current Average: $3.73
• Yesterday Average: $3.71
• Week Ago Average: $3.38
• Month Ago Average: $3.33
• Year Ago Average: $2.70
• Highest Recorded Average: $3.98 (7/17/08)
Grand Junction
• Current Average: $3.75
• Yesterday Average: $3.70
• Week Ago Average: $3.31
• Month Ago Average: $3.24
• Year Ago Average: $2.77
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.23 (7/15/08)
Pueblo
• Current Average: $3.81
• Yesterday Average: $3.79
• Week Ago Average: $3.49
• Month Ago Average: $3.50
• Year Ago Average: $2.69
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.04 (7/18/08)
Glenwood Springs
• Current Average: $3.86
• Yesterday Average: $3.83
• Week Ago Average: $3.58
• Month Ago Average: $3.55
• Year Ago Average: $3.00
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.49 (7/19/08)
Vail
• Current Average: $4.00
• Yesterday Average: $3.99
• Week Ago Average: $3.73
• Month Ago Average: $3.64
• Year Ago Average: $3.15
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.53 (7/16/08)
Durango
• Current Average: $4.14
• Yesterday Average: $4.07
• Week Ago Average: $3.68
• Month Ago Average: $3.58
• Year Ago Average: $2.82
• Highest Recorded Average: $4.22 (7/18/08)
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