Massachusetts drivers will pay an average of $3.39 per gallon of regular gasoline this month versus $2.22 last year. This is a 52.8 percent increase equaling $1.17 per gallon.
Of the seven Massachusetts metropolitan areas analyzed, drivers in Pittsfield faced the largest price hike at the pump in the last year of $54.58. Seakonk was spared the worst pain, with the price of gas rising $51.60 from January 2021 to January 2022.
Gas prices across the US hit a seven-year high following a significant drop at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The price of gas, derived from the cost of oil manufactured around the world, has the power to substantially change the free market and influence many industries.
A short-term outlook report from the US Energy Information Administration predicted gas rates will fall throughout 2022.
Massachusetts drivers average 1,092.4 miles and use 45.1 gallons of gasoline per month, according to the FHA.
| Market | 2022 | 2021 | CHG | % | Total increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield | $3.39 | $2.18 | $1.21 | 55.5% | $54.58 |
| Boston (MA only) | $3.41 | $2.23 | $1.18 | 53.1% | $53.31 |
| Cambridge-Newton-Framingham | $3.41 | $2.23 | $1.18 | 52.7% | $53.04 |
| Worcester | $3.38 | $2.21 | $1.17 | 53.2% | $53 |
| Barnstable-Yarmouth | $3.43 | $2.27 | $1.16 | 51.1% | $52.36 |
| Springfield | $3.31 | $2.17 | $1.15 | 52.9% | $51.69 |
| Seakonk | $3.30 | $2.15 | $1.14 | 53.1% | $51.60 |
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