Fuel prices in Natrona County have moved back above the $4-per-gallon mark.
After a 17-cent increase, AAA puts the county's average at $4.08 per gallon, leaving Natrona County still among the less expensive places in Wyoming to buy gas.
Here's what to know
According to Oil City News, AAA said Wyoming's statewide average climbed to $4.25 per gallon. At $4.08, Natrona County ranked as the third-cheapest county in the state, with only Goshen County at $3.96 per gallon and Albany County at $4.01 coming in lower.
The increase is part of a broader trend. GasBuddy data put the U.S. average for gasoline at $4.02 per gallon, while AAA put it slightly higher at $4.06. Diesel reached $5.42 per gallon nationally, adding more strain for drivers and businesses that rely on trucking.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said: "Average gasoline prices climbed back above $4 per gallon over the last week, with prices rising in slightly more states than they fell, as rebounding oil prices driven by the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries kept upward pressure on the market."
Oil City News, citing GasBuddy, reported the cheapest local gas was $3.96 a gallon at Sam's Club on East 2nd Street, while Maverik, Exxon, and Sinclair in Mills were close behind at $3.98.
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More background
The surge is tied to instability in the global oil market and tighter fuel supplies. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $82.08 per barrel, and Brent was at $88.51. Oil City News also reported that the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects Brent to average $87 per barrel in 2026 and said Middle East production is not projected to recover to pre-conflict levels until early 2027.
Domestic inventories have added to the pressure. Oil City News' summary of the EIA report for the week ending Aug. 7 said gasoline stocks fell by 1 million barrels to about 6% below the five-year seasonal average. Distillate stockpiles were running about 12% below that average.
De Haan said: "Diesel felt the pressure even more acutely, rising in all but a few states, as Ukraine's attacks on Russian refining infrastructure continue to impact refined product prices more than crude oil itself."
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