(The Center Square) — With the unofficial start of summer lurking this weekend, Georgia gas prices continue to remain below the national average.
The Peach State pump price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.38 per gallon on Sunday, below the national average of $3.59 per gallon, according to AAA-The Auto Club Group. Georgia’s state average is 3 cents less than last week and 5 cents less than last month but 12 cents more than last year.
Georgia’s average gas price has consistently remained below the national average.
“The drop in gas prices over the weekend was a welcome relief to Georgians,” Montrae Waiters, a spokeswoman for AAA, said in a release. “Crude oil prices, which play a key role in determining what consumers pay at the pump continue to fluctuate. If crude remains low, typically gas prices will do the same. However, an uptick in demand nearing Memorial Day weekend may cause gas prices to rise.”
In Georgia, Hinesville-Fort Stewart was the most expensive metro market at $3.50 per gallon, followed by Savannah ($3.49) and Atlanta ($3.41). At $3.17 per gallon, Catoosa-Dade-Walker was the state’s cheapest metro market, ahead of Dalton ($3.23) and Warner Robins ($3.26).
According to state numbers, Georgia collected $195.4 million in motor fuel tax in April, up from nearly $192.4 million in April 2023. Georgia’s gas tax collections have fluctuated over the past couple of years because of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s and state lawmakers’ decision to suspend collections at various times.
By T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor
