RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN (WGNS) — Tennessee drivers received another reminder this week that the gas pump remains one of the most reliable ways to experience emotional distress in under five minutes. According to new data, Tennessee gas prices jumped another 31 cents on average over the past week, bringing the statewide average to $3.34 per gallon. That price is 82 cents higher than just one month ago and 63 cents more than this time last year, proving once again that the concept of “temporary price increases” is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Drivers across the country are watching fuel prices bounce around like a rollercoaster — except the ride only seems to go up, and there’s no souvenir photo to prove you survived it. According to AAA, the Auto Club, despite the spike, Tennessee still sits at No. 9 on the national list for the cheapest gas, though calling it a “race” might be generous. At this point it’s more like a slow crawl where everyone is tired and nobody really wants to win.
MIDDLE AMERICA PRICES: Kansas currently holds the title for the cheapest gas in the country at $3.14 per gallon, followed by North Dakota at $3.20 and Oklahoma at $3.22. Tennessee’s $3.34 average keeps it near the top of the “least painful” category, if such a thing exists when you’re handing over money at the pump…