SEATTLE — All states are seeing a drop in gas prices, and the national average has fallen 38 cents since last month.
In Washington state, the average is $4.68 per gallon, according to AAA, which is down from $4.92 a year ago and $5.13 one month ago, a 45-cent drop.
In King County, the average is $4.95 per gallon. The highest in Washington state is Pacific County, with an average of $5.06 per gallon.
Across the United States, 33 states now have at least one gas station where a regular gallon of gas costs $2.99 or lower.
The drop can be attributed to multiple factors, including the changing seasons. The colder weather reduces car travel and gasoline use as more people stay indoors.
In addition, the switch to winter gas, which is cheaper than the summer blend fuel is also contributing to the drop. Winter gas is able to evaporate at lower temperatures to ensure the engine operates properly, and has a higher butane percentage than the summer blend, according to AAA. Butane is less expensive than other parts of gasoline, and as a result, winter gas prices are lower. As a tradeoff, summer blend fuel contains 1.7% more energy than the winter blend and has higher miles per gallon.
According to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, gas prices are expected to continue to drop by 10 to 20 cents in the coming weeks, "so long as the violence in the Middle East does not spread or jump to other countries."
De Haan also cited the return of a more typical fall economically, as the past few years saw disruptions due to the pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine. He continued, saying the West Coast could see prices drop below $3.99 a gallon in more places soon.
To view gas price averages by county in Washington state, see the AAA website.