Gas prices are up to start the new year
Michigan gas prices are up 21 cents from a week ago, and drivers are paying an average of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded. This price is 29 cents less than this time last month but 10 cents more than this time last year.
"Michigan motorists are seeing higher gas prices as they ring in 2023," Adrienne Woodland, a spokeswoman for AAA Michigan, said in a news release. An increase in crude oil prices to close out 2022, along with a busy holiday travel season have led to higher pump prices."
Michigan's gas tax also rose a bit at the beginning of the year because of an automatic rise each year starting last year to adjust the rate to account for inflation. The tax increases either 5% or the inflation rate, whichever is lower.
Motorists are paying an average of $48 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline; a discount of $30 from 2022's highest point last June. The most expensive gas price averages were in Metro Detroit and Saginaw at $3.21 and the least expensive gas price average was in Benton Harbor at $3.15.
The auto club offers these tips to save on gasoline:
Combine errands to limit driving time
Shop around for the best gas prices in your community
Consider paying cash – Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers using a credit card
Remove excess weight from your vehicle
Drive conservatively – Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduces fuel economy
The Detroit Free Press contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Gas prices are up to start the new year
