Despite the decrease, these are still the highest December prices since 2013
DEARBORN, Mich., (December 20, 2021) – Gas prices in Michigan are down 5 cents compared to last week. Michigan drivers are now paying an average of $3.14 per gallon for regular unleaded. This price is 23 cents less than this time last month but still $1 more than this time last year.
Motorists are paying an average of $47 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline; an increase of about $8 from when prices were their highest last January.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 700,000 bbl to 218.6 million bbl last week. On the other hand, gasoline demand increased from 8.96 million b/d to 9.47 million b/d. Typically, growing demand and tight supply would support rising pump prices, but fluctuations in the price of crude oil have helped to put downward pressure on prices.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by $1.52 to settle at $70.86. Crude prices increased on Thursday after the EIA reported that total domestic crude stocks decreased by 4.6 million bbl to 428.3 million bbl. The current stock level is 14.4 percent lower than the level in mid-December 2020. But the increase was short-lived as worries over the rising number of COVID-19 cases globally caused buyers to retreat, dropping crude prices 81 cents for the week.
With holiday travel forecasted to increase 34% compared to last year, the majority of travelers will be hitting the roadways. More than 3 million Michigan residents are planning to drive to their destination while seeing the highest December gas prices in over 7 years.
“Michigan gas prices have steadily declined for the past six weeks,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “Despite these decreases, Michigan drivers will still see the highest Year-End Holiday gas prices since 2013.”
Compared to last week, Metro Detroit’s average daily gas price decreased. Metro Detroit’s current average is $3.26 per gallon. This price is 3 cents less than last week’s average but still $1.14 more than this same time last year.
Click here to view AAA’s state and metro gas averages
- Most expensive gas price averages: Marquette ($3.37), Traverse City ($3.32), Ann Arbor ($3.26)
- Least expensive gas price averages: Grand Rapids ($2.96), Benton Harbor ($2.98), Lansing ($3.00)
Find Local Gas Prices
- Daily national, state, and metro gas price averages can be found at Gasprices.aaa.com
- Motorists can find the lowest gas prices on their smartphone or tablet with the free AAA Mobile app. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance.
CURRENT AND PAST PRICE AVERAGES
Regular Unleaded Gasoline
 |
Sunday | Saturday | Week Ago | Month Ago | One Year Ago | 2020 Low | 2020 High | Record High |
| National | $3.31 | $3.31 | $3.33 | $3.41 | $2.22 | $1.77 (Apr. 29) | $2.60 (Jan. 9) | $4.11 (July 2008) |
| Michigan | $3.14 | $3.15 | $3.19 | $3.37 | $2.14 | $1.41 (Apr. 28) | $2.63 (Jan. 9) | $4.26 (May 2011) |
| Detroit | $3.26 | $3.26 | $3.29 | $3.37 | $2.12 | $1.42 (Apr. 28) | $2.61 (Jan. 9) | $4.24 (May 2011) |
| Click here to view current gasoline price averages |
Gas Price Survey Methodology
Every day up to 130,000 stations in the nation and more than 4,200 stations in Michigan are surveyed based on credit card swipes and direct feeds in cooperation with the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and Wright Express for unmatched statistical reliability. All average retail prices in this report are for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline.
AAA updates fuel price averages daily at www.GasPrices.AAA.com.
About AAA – The Auto Club Group
AAA in Michigan celebrated its 100th Anniversary – A Century of Service in 2016 and has over 1.5 million members across the state. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG). Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second-largest AAA club in North America with more than 14 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec, and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking, and financial services, travel offerings, and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
