Hilo Sees Slight Climb in Gas Prices

Hilo fuels prices have seen a slight climb in cost over the past week, but those gains have began to taper off over the past day, according to Big Island Now’s analysis of current fuel prices on the Big Island with data from AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report and Gas Buddy.

In Hilo on Tuesday, the average cost of regular fuel was $3.25, one cent higher than it was one week ago but also a penny less than it was 24 hours ago. Mid-grade fuel rose by two cents in the past week to $3.35 with a three cent decrease since Monday. Hilo’s average for premium gas saw an overall jump of two cents in average from $3.44 last week to $3.66 Tuesday, which was a four cent decrease from Monday’s averages.

Fuel prices on the Big Island continue to follow an overall decrease in averages. Big Island Now’s analysis of AAA’s report shows that the average of regular fuel has dropped by five cents compared to a month ago, while mid-grade and premium fuel have each seen a four cent decrease in average over the past month.

Compared to a year ago, Hilo fuel prices have decreased dramatically. AAA’s report numbers show that the average price for regular fuel during the same time in 2014 was $4.13, while mid-grade was an average of $4.24 and premium fuel cost $4.34.

Big Island Now calculations of Gas Buddy data from Kailua-Kona shows that regular fuel is averaging about $3.50 on Tuesday. Mid-grade was about $3.60 on average and premium fuel buyers were paying an average of $3.69.

In Honolulu, the average price of regular fuel is 20 cents less than in Hilo and 45 cents lower than Kona’s average regular fuel prices. Residents on Oahu are paying an average of $3.05 for regular fuel, a decrease of two cents from last week, and a total of nine cents in the past two weeks.

Diesel prices in Hilo have risen in average over the past week. On Tuesday, prices were $4.26, compared to $4.17 last week. Honolulu diesel buyers are paying $4.49, a drop in one cent from last week’s per-gallon average.