(The Center Square) – Transportation energy prices skyrocketed over the weekend in North Carolina, with a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline up 6 cents on average in the past week.
In some locations, the rise from Friday to Monday was 17 cents.
The state’s $2.92 average remains 30 cents below the national average of $3.22, with the highest averages in central northern border counties and along the coast. One stretch with the lowest is from Fayetteville to the southeast toward South Carolina’s perennially lower costs.
Combustion engine consumers, which make up more than 8 million vehicle registrations, are paying $3.53 on average for diesel. Nationally, it’s $3.67.
For those traveling out of state, among border states Tennessee ($2.85) and South Carolina ($2.89) are less on unleaded gasoline, and Georgia ($2.96) and Virginia ($3.09) are more. In three weeks, Georgia is up 8 cents, South Carolina 12 cents, Tennessee 15 cents, and Virginia 14 cents.
At the turn of the calendar new year, the statewide average was $2.86, and the national average was $3.04.
North Carolina’s electric vehicle charging rate average, according to AAA, is 33.1 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average is 36.1 cents per kwh. More than 100,000 zero emission vehicles are registered in the state.
Eleven states have lower average prices for a gallon of unleaded; 19 are lower for diesel; and nine are lower in electric.
Among 14 major metro areas, the least expensive average for unleaded gas is in Jacksonville at $2.84. Most expensive is the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area ($2.97).
Diesel is the most consumer-friendly ($3.43) in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton.
North Carolina’s 40.3 cents per gallon tax rate for 2025 is topped by California (59.6), Pennsylvania (57.6), Washington (49.4), Illinois (47), Maryland (46.1), and New Jersey (44.9).
The motor fuel excise tax rate in the state is the amount for the preceding calendar year (40.4), multiplied by a percentage. The percentage is plus or minus the sum of the annual percentage change in state population for the applicable calendar year, multiplied by 75% and the annual energy index percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, multiplied by 25%, the state Department of Transportation explains on its website.
Motor fuel taxes in the state go to the Department of Transportation’s highway and multi-modal projects, adding up to just more than half of the state transportation resources. Specifically, the revenues go into the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund.
