MD Among Top 10 In U.S. For Largest Weekly Drop In Gas Prices: AAA

MARYLAND — Maryland ranks among the top 10 states in the nation for the largest decrease in gas prices this week, according to AAA. The Old Line State saw a 10-cent drop Tuesday in the average price per gallon at the pump.

AAA said Maryland gas prices declined through the Independence Day holiday weekend, even as a record number of Americans were forecast to take road trips.

Other states saw a drop in prices at the pump, too. Down 13 cents in a week, Texas and Delaware tied for the biggest drop in gas prices nationwide, AAA said.

These states also saw the largest decrease at the pump this week: Arizona (−12 cents), Illinois (−12 cents), Indiana (−12 cents), Ohio (−12 cents), South Carolina (−11 cents), Florida (−11 cents) and Virginia (−11 cents).

The gas tax in Maryland is about 43 cents per gallon, after an automatic increase kicked in July 1. It’s the ninth highest in the country, according to the IGEN data.

An emergency gas tax holiday in the state lasted a little more than a month before it expired. Since then Gov. Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat seeking to replace Hogan, have exchanged criticisms over the need to enact a gas tax suspension.

Last month, Hogan called on Congress, Franchot and the Maryland General Assembly to take action by suspending gas taxes and enacting a law to allow an emergency suspension.

The same week, Franchot wrote a letter to presiding officers in Congress and the Maryland General Assembly, urging immediate legislative enactment of federal and state gas tax holidays.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline Thursday fell to $4.75, down 11 cents over the past week.

According to AAA, the main reason for the drop in gas prices is lower demand at the pump as fewer people fueled up over the past two weeks. The decline, however, could end with the arrival of the summer driving season.

“Domestic gasoline demand dipped recently, which took some of the pressure off of pump prices. About 80 percent of stations are now selling regular for under $5 a gallon,” Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, said in a news release. “But July is typically the heaviest month for demand as more Americans hit the road, so this trend of easing prices could be short-lived.”

Marylanders are paying on average $4.68 at the pump for regular unleaded gas as of Thursday, according to AAA. That's 4 cents less than Wednesday and 26 cents less than a month ago.