U.S. gas prices slipped slightly last week, with the national average falling 0.9 cents to $2.83 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. While prices are up 3.9 cents compared to a month ago, they remain 21.3 cents lower than this time last year. The modest weekly change came despite oil prices reaching their highest levels in months due to geopolitical tensions, a weaker U.S. dollar, and supply concerns. Just over half of states saw gas prices decline, led by Midwest price-cycling states such as Indiana and Ohio, where prices had previously jumped and are now easing. In contrast, prices are rising across much of the West Coast as the transition to summer gasoline begins and attention turns to a planned refinery shutdown in California this April. Over the next several weeks, more states are expected to experience price increases than decreases.

Regionally, average gas prices stand at $2.82 on the East Coast, $2.65 in the Midwest, $2.46 along the Gulf Coast, $2.57 in the Rocky Mountain region, and $3.83 on the West Coast, with the Midwest and Gulf Coast seeing declines this week. According to AAA, the lowest gas prices in the country are found in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Alabama, where regular gasoline ranges from about $2.37 to $2.53 per gallon.