Mass. gas prices could increase due to Harvey
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Tropical Storm Harvey could increase gas prices in Massachusetts, says AAA.
Gas prices in Massachusetts are up two cents from last week, and AAA says prices could jump this week as the Gulf of Mexico region continues to be battered by Tropical Storm Harvey and Labor Day approaches.
The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded gasoline is $2.26, AAA reported Monday, below the national average of $2.37 by 11 cents. At this time last year, the average price of gas was $2.11 per gallon. An AAA survey found gas prices in Massachusetts range from $2.11 to $2.39 per gallon.
Gas prices have remained "relatively stable" since Friday, when Harvey made landfall in Texas as a hurricane and began dumping record-setting amounts of rain on the Gulf region. Nationally, the four-cent spike in gas prices this week is among the largest one-week price surges this summer, AAA said.
As Texas and Louisiana deal with flooding and more rain from Harvey, one-quarter of the oil refining capacity in the Gulf Coast had been taken offline, AAA said, citing forecasts by Oil Price Information Service. Some refineries have sustained damage during the storm and companies are working to assess what is necessary before resuming operations.
"No doubt, Harvey has impacted operations and access to refineries in the Gulf Coast. However a clear understanding of overall damage at the refineries is unknown," Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson, said in a statement. "Despite the country's overall oil and gasoline inventories being at or above 5-year highs, until there is clear picture of damage and an idea when refineries can return to full operational status, gas prices will continue to increase."
Between Harvey and Labor Day, typically thought of as the end of the summer driving season, gas prices in Massachusetts could be subject to "additional upward pressure" this week and weekend, AAA Northeast said
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