BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
The average price of gas has reached $4 per gallon in the Treasure Valley, and the rest of Idaho is not far behind.
Boise hit the $4 mark on Wednesday, according to AAA, well ahead of last year's pace. Area gas prices didn't reach $4 last year until June 7.
Statewide, the average gas price is $3.93, a 9% increase from a year ago, AAA said.
“Fuel prices could ebb and flow a little bit before the unofficial start of road trip season around Memorial Day, but the overall trend of more-expensive fill-ups will likely continue throughout the spring and into the summer,” AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde said in AAA's news release.
Utah, which supplies most of Idaho's gasoline, has an average gas price of $3.97 per gallon — 7.5% higher than last year — AAA noted.
Twenty-one states have higher pump prices than a year ago.
"While conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Iran, have stoked fear and uncertainty in the crude oil market, crude prices, which soared as high as $87 per barrel earlier this month, have dipped slightly in recent days," AAA said. "The West Texas Intermediate benchmark for crude oil is currently trading near $83 per barrel."
Conde said that while a brief lull could provide some reprieve, "strong gasoline demand and additional upward pressure on pump prices could be fast approaching.”
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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