Submitted by AAA Texas

The statewide average gas price in Texas is $ 3.03 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. This price is four cents less than on this day last week and $ 1.23 more per gallon compared to this day last year. Among the major metropolitan areas studied in Texas, El Paso drivers pay the most on average at $ 3.22 per gallon while Amarillo drivers pay the least at $ 2.87 per gallon. The national average price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $ 3.41, down one cent from on this day last week and $ 1.29 higher than the price per gallon around the same time. last year.

AAA Texas is forecasting near pre-pandemic travel levels during the Thanksgiving holiday period next week. Millions of drivers across Texas will pay about $ 1.15 to $ 1.25 more for a gallon of gasoline than if they had traveled on Thanksgiving in 2020. Many people stayed home last year, but that will certainly not be the case this year. In fact, with millions more Americans choosing to travel again after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the demand for crude oil and gasoline has increased dramatically over the same period last year and throughout the major part of this year. The surge in demand comes as the world reopens and has driven up crude oil prices and, in addition, higher retail gasoline prices for much of 2021.

However, for the first time in months, oil prices have started to drop below $ 80 a barrel in recent days. On Thursday, the price of crude fell to its lowest level in six weeks after the Biden administration called on China, Japan and South Korea to release their strategic oil reserves. While crude oil and gas prices had already started to decline earlier in the week due to a slight drop in demand, it is still too early to tell if prices will continue to fall before the busy travel season. of Thanksgiving. The silver lining for Texas drivers – this is the first time the statewide average gas price has seen a weekly drop in seven weeks.

“Texas drivers can be thankful that retail gasoline prices are starting to drop, but we won’t see anything close to Thanksgiving 2020 prices. However, there are a few simple steps drivers can take to get the hang of it. more bang for the buck when refueling. for their vacation trip, ”AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said. “One of the easiest ways to save money is to maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular maintenance will ensure optimum fuel economy, performance and longevity.

Impact of gas prices on Thanksgiving travel

While gas prices will be much more expensive than last year, the higher prices should not deter vacationers. AAA predicts that about 3.6 million Texans will travel 50 miles or more to their Thanksgiving destination. Additionally, Texas drivers pay the second lowest average gas price in the country, according to gasprices.aaa.com.

Texas AAA Fuel Economy Tips

• Bad driving is not only dangerous. It’s expensive. Studies have repeatedly shown that personal driving habits are the most important factor affecting vehicle fuel consumption. Adopting new and improved driving behaviors not only makes driving safer, but can also contribute to significant savings at the gas pump. Here are some simple ways to improve your car’s gas mileage:

• Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and sudden acceleration. These actions significantly increase fuel consumption.

• Slow down and limit your speed. Higher speeds result in greater aerodynamic drag.

• Plan ahead to complete multiple errands in one trip and, when possible, travel outside of peak hours of the day.

• Use cruise control on the freeway to maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on slippery roads as this could cause loss of vehicle control.

• Minimize your use of air conditioning.

• If you own more than one car, use the most fuel efficient model that meets the needs of a given route.

• Avoid prolonged idling to warm the engine, even in colder temperatures. It is unnecessary and wastes fuel.

• Remove unnecessary and bulky items from your car. It takes more fuel to accelerate a heavier car, and the reduction in fuel economy is greater for smaller cars than for larger models.

• Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special brackets when not in use. On the highway, even an empty bicycle rack can reduce fuel economy, and a loaded luggage rack or car roof container will have a major effect on gas mileage.

• Make sure your tires are properly maintained and inflated to the correct level.

• Maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular maintenance will ensure optimum fuel economy.