Why Are Idaho Gas Prices the Worst in the Country?
Idaho is currently in the top 10 ranking for worst gas prices in the United States. So how did we get so lucky? Why are gas prices here in Idaho 30 cents more than the national average?
A month ago we were paying around $2.50 to $2.60 a gallon for gas and now we're hovering at the $3.00 mark for every gallon of precious gasoline we dump into our tanks. Some say it's that time of year where people start taking off on vacations and hitting the roads which increases demand. But, if that was the case, we wouldn't have been 50 cents cheaper this time last year. Here's why gas is so expensive for us Idahoans.
Supply and demand is always going to drive prices up or down depending on what's going on with your location. Unfortunately for us here in Idaho, the demand is higher than the supply. KTVB reports that we, here in Idaho do not have an oil field or refinery. The fact is, we're the only Northwest state without that. This means it has to be transported in which cost money. State and federal taxes tack on a whopping 20% which increases how much we pay and the last factor is the supply of crude oil is at it's highest price it's ever been in the past few years.
We don't have to like it but it's happening. Gas prices have blown up in the state of Idaho and there's no relief in sight that we can see.