(The Center Square) – While gas prices in Washington state fluctuate, they have increased overall compared to last year, with drivers enduring some of the highest fuel costs in the nation.
According to AAA, the average price of standard, or regular grade, gas in Washington is $4.39 per gallon as of Friday morning, up slightly from last week’s $4.388. However, prices have increased substantially compared to last year, when gas was $4.243.
Only California and Hawaii have higher gas prices than Washington. …
Several factors impact the price of gas in the Evergreen State, including increases in state gas and diesel taxes effective July 1.
The new gas tax increased the price by 6 cents per gallon, bringing the state’s per-gallon tax rate from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents. To adjust for inflation, per-gallon gas prices will rise 2% every year. …
Also impacting the price at the pump in Washington is the state’s cap-and-trade program, established by the Climate Commitment Act in January 2023 and run by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The program has generated approximately $3.2 billion so far. …
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