GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As millions of Americans prepare to hit the road for Thanksgiving, many are keeping an eye on gas prices. While most of the country is seeing lower fuel costs, drivers in West Michigan may face higher prices at the pump.
Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, said the price jump is partially due to refinery issues.
"The BP refinery down in northwest Indiana has had some intermittent flaring the last couple of days. They've struggled to get back online after maintenance," he said. "The wholesale price of gasoline and much of the Great Lakes has shot up 30 cents a gallon in the last few days, and that could lead gas prices higher just in the Great Lakes in time for Thanksgiving.”
Despite this increase, De Haan said this year's Thanksgiving gas prices are at their lowest since 2020.
Currently, 29 states are seeing average gas prices below $3 per gallon. In the Great Lakes region, De Haan predicts that prices will likely hover around $3 a gallon for the next couple of months, but that it will be possible to find prices below $3.
GasBuddy reports that over 70% of Americans plan to travel by car for the holiday, a significant increase from 41% last year. This surge in road travel is attributed to lower gas prices nationwide and a slight drop in inflation.