Midland bucks trend of lowering gas prices City has state’s highest price for 12th straight week

While the average price across the state fell 4 cents and the average price across the nation fell 3 cents, the average price in Midland stayed at $2.54 a gallon. While the average price across the state fell 4 cents and the average price across the nation fell 3 cents, the average price in Midland stayed at $2.54 a gallon. Photo: Jessica Hill, FRE Photo: Jessica Hill, FRE Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Midland bucks trend of lowering gas prices 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The average price of gasoline, it seems, is going down everywhere but Midland.

While the average price across the state fell 4 cents and the average price across the nation fell 3 cents, the average price in Midland stayed at $2.54 a gallon. The price in Midland was the most expensive in Texas cities surveyed – for the 12th straight week, according to AAA Texas.

There are glimmers of hope that the price in Midland will trend like those across West Texas, around the state and across the nation. The cheapest gas in Midland fell 3 cents, according to TexasGasPrices.com. Also, more stations are showing a price of regular unleaded lower than $2.30 a gallon (five retailers, up from two). There also is one more store across Midland with a price less than $2.50 a gallon.

However, nearly 40 stores are showing a price of regular unleaded greater than $2.50. The most common price, according to TexasGasPrices.com, is $2.59, and a pair of stores inside the city are charging more than $2.60 a gallon. In Odessa, there are only eight stores with gas higher than $2.50 a gallon, and the highest price is $2.55.

While the average price in Midland and Odessa is $2.48 a gallon, according to TexasGasPrices.com, AAA Texas shows Midland with an average 6 cents higher. Midland’s average price is also around 34 cents higher than in Lubbock, 28 cents more than the state average and now a couple of pennies higher than the national average.

The difference in the price of gas in Midland-Odessa and across the state last year was less than 4 cents.

AAA Texas reports that while the national average has dropped nearly a dime in February, the average price in Midland has fallen by 3 cents. TexasGasPrices.com reports the average price across the state has fallen by nearly 7 cents in the last month, while the average price in Midland-Odessa – driven by state leader Midland – is up by more than 3 cents. That is a dime difference over the same period.

Of the major metro areas in Texas surveyed by AAA, drivers in Fort Worth and Arlington are paying the least at $2.15 per gallon – the lowest price in the state.

Market analysts say the downward trend in retail prices may not last long because a handful of major refineries are undergoing maintenance, temporarily squeezing supply. Cheapest gas: $2.22 (Sam’s Club, SH 191/Tradewinds)

Cheapest gas (non-membership store): $2.27 (Murphy USA, Midland Drive/Briarwood Avenue)

Most expensive: $2.61

Most common prices: $2.58

Cheapest prices in West Texas: Lubbock $2.09, San Angelo $2.07, Odessa $2.22, Midland $2.22, Abilene $2.28

Mid-Odessa Texas

Thursday $2.480 $2.238

Last week $2.496 $2.310

Last month $2.446 $2.307

Last year $2.110 $2.073

Source: TexasGasPrices.com