Islandwide Fuel Prices Fluctuate Slightly

Big Island fuel prices this week are seeing one-to-two cent drops in average, both in Hilo and Kona.

October held September’s trend of leveled-off fuel prices after a summer of huge drops.

Big Island Now has continued to track fuel prices on the Big Island using AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report and Gas Buddy Data.

In Hilo, fuel averages saw a decrease of one cent across the board. Regular fuel was $2.82, one cent less than last week’s average after holding tight for the prior two weeks. Mid-grade fuel averaged $2.92 Monday, a one-cent skid from $2.91 Sunday. Premium gasoline dropped from $3.06 to $3.05 over the past week.

Analysis of AAA’s report shows that the margins between average fuel prices this week, compared to one month ago for all grades of gasoline, have shrunk. For the first time last week, fuel prices were higher than their previous month’s counterpart. This week, average fuel prices are slightly down, compared to the same time during October. Regular fuel dropped by two cents and a one-cent decrease was seen in mid-grade fuel. Premium fuel continued to see a slight increase following last week’s trend, increasing by one cent compared to the same time last month.

Average fuel prices, compared to the same time period in November 2014, are still down by more than one dollar. In 2014, regular fuel cost an average of $3.99, while mid-grade gasoline was an average of $4.08 and premium fuel was an average of $4.18.

In Kailua-Kona, fuel price averages held close to last week’s averages, seeing a similar fluctuation as Hilo.

Big Island Now’s calculation of Gas Buddy data from Kailua-Kona shows that regular fuel was an average of $3.05 Monday, one cent less than what was reported last week. Mid-grade gasoline was an average of $3.15, a two-cent increase compared to last week’s numbers, which have increased from the prior week. Premium fuel saw a three-cent decrease after jumping four cents to $3.27 last week.

In Honolulu, the average price of regular fuel cost ten cents less than Hilo’s average and 33 cents less than Kailua-Kona’s average regular fuel price. Oahu fuel buyers were paying $2.72 for regular fuel Monday, a two-cent decrease compared to last week, when the average held a steady value for the prior two weeks.

Diesel buyers in Hilo were paying an average of $4.16 on Monday, a three-cent decrease over the past week. Honolulu diesel buyers were paying $4.39, also a three-cent decrease compared to last week.

The national average for regular fuel on Monday was $2.19, a one-cent decrease compared to last week. The national average is 63 cents less than Hilo’s average this week and 86 cents less than Kailua-Kona’s prices.

Club member-only prices, such as Costco and HFN, are excluded from this analysis and its averages.