How gas prices have changed in Richmond in the last week

The national average cost for a gallon of gasoline has hovered stubbornly close to the $3 average without dipping below in recent weeks, but that could change as the December holidays grow closer.

"The weeks ahead should feature slight drops in gas prices in most areas, with over 100,000 stations now offering a gallon for $2.99 or less, which should stick around through the holiday shopping season," GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said in a statement Monday.

Now, consumers are waiting to see if President-elect Donald Trump's promise to lower gas prices will be quashed by his desire to enact tariffs on long-time U.S. trading partners. Tariffs placed on Canada could cause as much as a 70-cent increase per gallon for drivers in northern states that rely on Canadian crude oil imports, which make up roughly 20% of the oil in their gas.

The impact of those tariffs would have no effect on gas prices until January, if implemented at all, according to De Haan.

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Richmond-Petersburg, VA metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 2.

Richmond by the numbers
- Gas current price: $2.95
--- Virginia average: $2.93
- Week change: -$0.03 (-1.0%)
- Year change: -$0.13 (-4.2%)
- Historical expensive gas price: $4.93 (6/14/22)

- Diesel current price: $3.40
- Week change: +$0.01 (+0.2%)
- Year change: -$0.65 (-15.9%)
- Historical expensive diesel price: $5.83 (6/13/22)

Metros with the most expensive gas
#1. Lihue (Kauai), HI: $5.19
#2. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA: $4.75
#3. Hilo, HI: $4.72

Metros with the least expensive gas
#1. Lawton, OK: $2.34
#2. Oklahoma City, OK: $2.35
#3. Amarillo, TX: $2.37

This story features writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 371 metros.