Fuel prices climb as oil tensions persist

WENATCHEE — Average gasoline prices in Washington rose 28.6 cents per gallon over the past week to $4.86 as of Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,666 stations statewide.

GasBuddy said Washington prices were 76.8 cents higher than a month ago and 86 cents higher than a year ago.

The national average for gasoline rose 23.2 cents over the same period to $3.68 per gallon, according to the company’s data. GasBuddy said the national average was up 80 cents from a month ago and 66.1 cents above the level recorded a year earlier.

The national average price of diesel increased 34 cents from a week ago to $4.951 per gallon, according to the report.

In Washington, the lowest reported price Sunday was $3.69 per gallon and the highest was $6.09, a spread of $2.40, GasBuddy said.

Among selected metro areas in the state, Tacoma averaged $4.87 per gallon, up 32.7 cents from a week earlier. Seattle averaged $5.06, up 28.3 cents, and Yakima averaged $4.51, up 26.7 cents.

Historical data released by GasBuddy showed Washington’s average price at $4 per gallon on March 16, 2025, compared with a national average of $3.02. On the same date in 2024, the Washington average was $4.28. It was $4.15 in 2023, $4.73 in 2022 and $3.22 in 2021.

“Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years while diesel could soon approach the $5-per-gallon mark nationally,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist. At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.”

GasBuddy said its figures were compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering more than 150,000 gas stations nationwide.