Gas prices decline in region

SANDPOINT — Temperatures are going down in Idaho — and so are the gas prices, AAA officials said this week.

The week's average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State was $3.17, which was a nickel less than a week ago, 39 cents less than a month ago, and 26 cents less than a year ago, AAA officials said.

In Bonner County, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.31.4; while in Boundary County, the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.26.9. Kootenai County gas prices ranged from a low of around $3.19 to a high of around $3.29.

Meanwhile, the national average was at $3.10, which was 2 cents less than a week ago, 14 cents less than a month ago, and 11 cents less than a year ago.

Idaho ranked 15th in the country for most expensive fuel. Montana and Utah, which supply much of Idaho’s finished gasoline, rank 26th and 35th, respectively.

“Gas prices are like doing the limbo — everyone wants to know how low they can go,” said AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “We see the potential for the Idaho average to approach or even fall below the $3 mark, but that would require low seasonal demand and a resilient supply chain to keep things moving in the right direction."

Idaho’s lowest price for the year was $3.18 for a gallon of regular Dec. 31, and prices topped out at $4.22 per gallon Sept. 1 (right before Labor Day). The national average hit a low of $3.07 per gallon Dec. 18, with its most expensive price of $3.87 on Aug. 17.

“Pump prices weren’t as low as we would all like them to be, but Idaho drivers fared much better in 2023 than in 2022, paying an average of 56 cents less per gallon over the course of the year,” Conde said.

AAA said that if cold weather curbs fuel demand, pump prices could drop even further in the coming days and weeks.

Here’s a look at Idaho gas prices as of Tuesday: Boise, $3.26; Franklin, $2.85; Idaho Falls, $2.89; Lewiston, $3.61 and Pocatello, $2.66.