MD Gas Prices Hit Record High Again, AAA Says

MARYLAND — As summer travel begins to rev up, average gas prices in Maryland reached yet another record high on Friday at $4.719 per gallon, according to the travel group AAA.

It's slightly below the national gas price average, which is currently $4.761. That's for regular unleaded gas — diesel gas prices had a record high on May 18 at $5.958, the auto club said.

The average price for gas in Maryland a month ago was $4.265. A year ago it was only $3.026, and state officials are now looking to temporarily suspend the Maryland's gas tax increase scheduled for July.

Maryland officials had temporarily voided the state's gas tax earlier this year to give residents some relief, but it resumed in April.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas Thursday across Maryland was:

• Annapolis: $4.723
• Baltimore: $4.731
• Bowie-St. Charles: $4.714
• Cumberland: $4.583
• Frederick: $4.649
• Hagerstown: $4.513
• Salisbury: $4.707
• Washington region (MD only): $4.764

Comptroller Peter Franchot requested that the General Assembly grant him the authority to suspend the tax increase after Gov. Larry Hogan called on him to do so on May 23.

"This tax increase, while hardship-inducing for Marylanders at any time, is simply unconscionable at this moment when has prices are already at their highest level in recorded history amid a period of prolonged inflation and economic uncertainty," Hogan wrote in a letter to Franchot. "I know that you agree we should do more to give Marylanders a break from these punishing prices."

Franchot agreed with Hogan, and in return called on the governor in a letter to declare a state of emergency and suspend the gas tax until September. He said imposing the increase now would be "morally and economically irresponsible."

"Moments like this require an all-hands-on-deck approach, and I am committed to utilizing every legal and regulatory tool at my disposal to respond to this crisis," wrote Franchot in a letter posted by Maryland Matters. "Let us work together to deliver meaningful solutions to these challenges and show the people of Maryland that its government can – and will – respond to these trying times with bold, decisive, and swift action."