Connecticut Gas Prices: Could Be Better; Could Be Worse

As the legislature debates steps to dial down the state’s high gas prices, this chart from GasBuddy.com shows how much more Connecticut drivers are paying than the average motorist around the country — and also how much less they pay than some drivers.

For most of the last year, gas prices in Connecticut were consistently 20 to 30 cents a gallon more than the national average. But for the last couple weeks, Connecticut’s prices have been a veritable bargain compared to San Francisco, which has some of the highest pump prices in the nation.

California and Connecticut each add 67 cents in taxes to the price of a gallon of gas, and prices in Connecticut and San Francisco historically have been fairly close.  But a steep run-up in prices in the Bay Area recently has pushed the cost of a gallon of gas in San Francisco about 40 cents higher than in Connecticut.

While sticker shock at the pump tends to get the attention of motorists and politicians alike, the financial impact of Connecticut’s gap with the rest of the nation may not be as great as many think. Using federal figures from 2007, the average motorists puts 11,720 miles on a vehicle that gets 20.4 miles per gallon. That translates to about 575 gallons of gas a year. A 20- the 30-cent gap with the rest of the nation means a typical motorist in Connecticut is spending an extra $115 to $172 a year on fuel.

Avoiding road rage is a little tougher, however, when looking at historical price trends for the state. An average gallon of gas in Connecticut this week costs a hair over $4, according to GasBuddy. That’s double what it was three years ago this week.