Gas prices: The (sort of) good, bad, ugly and uncertain

There’s not a whole lot of good news when it comes to gas prices, but here’s what we could find.

In South Dakota, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.92 Friday, up from $3.44 a month ago and down 2 cents from the previous week, according to AAA.

Sioux Falls was slightly cheaper at $3.87 per gallon.

So that’s a little good news.

It also puts the state at 29 cents less than the national average of $4.21 per gallon, ranking South Dakota the 15th cheapest state to buy gas.

Of course, it’s all relative.

Rewind one year, and we were paying an average of $2.84.

“The name of the game over the past month, month and a half, has been volatility and uncertainty with the oil markets with the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” said Shawn Steward, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Kansas and AAA South Dakota.

“Like the stock market, the oil market doesn’t like uncertainty and volatility, and it’s reacted accordingly with much higher crude prices.”

That’s reflected at the pump, and while President Joe Biden announced last week the release of 180 millions of oil from reserves, the ripple effect down to the pump won’t be felt immediately, Steward said.

“It’s really uncertain at this time how much reduction we’ll see at the gas pump, but there likely will be some involved, so a little relief when people fill up,” he said. “And any news that threatens the oil supply can put upward pressure on prices again or balance out that release from the reserve.”

It’s hard to predict where prices are heading, he added. This time of year typically brings increases as more people start taking road trips, and retailers are required to begin carrying the summer blend of fuel by June 1, which generally is slightly more expensive, he said.

“In the past, we’ve seen gas prices not really having much impact on people’s decision to travel,” he added. “People will still take trips but maybe spend less on attractions or stay at a less-expensive hotel. But these prices being particularly high could have a little more impact, so we’re doing research now to get a sense of that.”

There are some things you can to do maximize your fuel efficiency, though.

Shop around for the best gas prices. Drivers can use tools such as the free AAA mobile app to find and compare current gas prices closest to their location.

Take advantage of discounts. Fuel retailers, grocery store chains or discount clubs sometimes offer discounts on each gallon of gas purchased or based on your spending or accumulation of points for shopping there. There are credit cards that provide fuel discounts or cash-back bonuses on fuel purchases.

Get your vehicle checked out. Perform regular car maintenance at the intervals recommended by the vehicle manufacturer in the owner’s manual or as indicated by the in-car maintenance reminder system. Did you delay regular maintenance during the pandemic because you were driving less? Now is the time to get it looked at.

Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can decrease your gas mileage by 3 percent. Properly inflated tires also are safer and last longer. Check pressure in all four tires every two weeks with an accurate, hand-held air pressure gauge.

Know your octane. Do not purchase midgrade or premium gas unless your owner’s manual specifically recommends it. According to AAA research, Americans waste more than $2.1 billion annually on premium gas in vehicles designed to run on regular fuel. AAA found no benefit to using premium gas instead of regular fuel. At the time of the study, 70 percent of U.S. drivers owned a vehicle that required only regular gasoline.

Avoid idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon. Letting your vehicle idle for more than 10 seconds uses more gas than shutting it off and restarting. Don’t start your car until you are ready to go. The engine actually warms up more quickly once the car is operating and will stay warm after stopping. Avoid drive-up windows — park and go inside instead.

Observe the speed limit.  Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 15 cents per gallon of gas. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town.

Consolidate trips. Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. With a little planning, you can avoid retracing your route and reduce the distance you travel as well. You’ll not only save fuel but also reduce wear and tear on your car.

Minimize drag.  Drag reduces fuel efficiency. Driving with the windows open, using roof- or rear-mounted racks and carrying heavy loads increase vehicle drag. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs in a smaller, more fuel-efficient car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by using a removable rack and placing items inside the trunk whenever possible. Avoid carrying unnecessary items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1 percent to 2 percent.