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

VIRGINIA — Virginia ranks among the top 10 states in the nation for the largest decrease in gas prices this week, according to AAA. The state saw an 11-cent drop Tuesday in the average price per gallon at the pump.

AAA said Virginia 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 Maryland (−10 cents).

A last-ditch attempt by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to enact a three-month gas tax holiday was killed by the Virginia Senate on June 17. Youngkin's budget amendment proposed suspension of Virginia's 26.2 cents per gallon tax on regular gasoline and 27 cents per gallon on diesel. The tax holiday would have run from July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022.

While the Virginia House of Delegates adopted the three-month gas tax holiday, the Virginia Senate again rejected the measure last month, NBC Washington reported.

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.”

Virginians are paying on average $4.55 at the pump for regular unleaded gas as of Thursday, according to AAA. That's 3 cents less than Wednesday and 17 cents less than a month ago.