(The Center Square) — Mississippi gas prices continue to be the nation’s lowest going into the New Year’s holiday.
According to the Auto Club of America, the average price in the Magnolia State is $2.68 per gallon, up a few tenths of a cent from last week’s price of $2.68 and down 10 cents from a year ago today.
The national average is $3.12 per gallon, down a cent from a week ago and 12 cents from a month ago. Gasbuddy energy analyst Patrick DeHaan thinks the prices in the coming few months could go lower.
The most expensive gas is in Claiborne County in southwest Mississippi at $3.11 per gallon, while the cheapest gas is in Simpson County ($2.58) in the south-central part of the state.
For metros in the Magnolia State, the three-county Mississippi Gulf Coast region has the lowest prices at $2.62 per gallon, followed by Hattiesburg ($2.66), the Jackson metro ($2.66) and Olive Branch-Southaven ($2.70).
According to the American Petroleum Institute, Mississippi has the second-lowest state taxes and fees on gasoline (18.79 cents per gallon), second only to Alaska (15.13 per gallon).
The most expensive gas is in Hawaii at $4.68 per gallon, followed by California ($4.67), Washington ($4.14), Nevada ($3.93) and Oregon ($3.80)
The lowest gas prices next to Mississippi are Texas ($2.68 per gallon), Arkansas ($2.68), Missouri ($2.70) and Oklahoma ($2.70)
As for Mississippi’s neighbors, Louisiana is at $2.75 per gallon, followed by Tennessee ($2.78) and Alabama ($2.82).
