Average retail gasoline prices in Tacoma have not moved  in the past week, averaging $2.76 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy.com’s daily survey of 271 gas outlets in Tacoma. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.34.

Including the change in gas prices in Tacoma during the past week, prices yesterday were 40.8 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 17.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 43.0 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“For the first time since November, the national average price for gasoline has fallen over the last week, helped by weak demand and rising gasoline inventories,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. “This downward trend is evident in over two-thirds of states but may take additional time to materialize in others, yet is a familiar pattern for late winter as refiners build inventories prior to the late-February start of refinery maintenance season and thanks to the year’s weakest demand occurring over the next four weeks.”

Motorists shouldn’t expect the trend to last long.  A hike in prices as maintenance season begins and the transition to summer gasoline will lead to gas prices that will mostly trend higher in the spring.

– GasBuddy.com