Abbott Touts Low Texas Gas Prices as Rural and West Texas Markets Run Higher

Gov. Greg Abbott has been pointing to Texas gasoline prices as among the lowest in the country, but current AAA data shows prices vary considerably across the state, with several rural and West Texas markets running above the statewide average.

As of Sept. 24, the national average for regular gasoline was $4.48 per gallon. Texas averaged about $3.96, placing it among the lowest-priced states in the country. The national diesel average was $6.51, compared with about $5.95 in Texas.

Abbott has cited low fuel prices in recent comments about affordability in Texas.

AAA data, however, shows a significant range within the state.

In Amarillo, regular gasoline averaged about $3.99 per gallon and diesel averaged $6.00. Austin-San Marcos averaged $3.89 for regular gasoline and $5.93 for diesel. Houston averaged $3.90 for regular and $5.90 for diesel, while San Antonio averaged about $3.87 for regular gasoline and $5.90 for diesel.

Prices were higher in several West Texas markets, with El Paso, Midland, Odessa and San Angelo among the areas reporting regular gasoline prices at or above $4 per gallon.

AAA's county-level data also showed regular gasoline prices ranging from about $3.85 per gallon in the lowest-priced Texas counties to as much as $4.67 in the highest-priced counties.

Diesel prices showed less variation across the state but remained especially important in rural areas, where agriculture, trucking and other industries rely heavily on diesel fuel.

The Texas diesel average of about $5.95 per gallon is also sharply higher than a year ago. AAA reported an average of $3.18 per gallon at the same time last year. Amarillo diesel averaged about $6.00 this week compared with $3.21 one year ago.

Regular gasoline has also increased from a year ago. The statewide average was about $2.74 per gallon one year ago, compared with $3.96 this week. In Amarillo, regular gasoline increased from about $2.69 to $3.99 over the same period.

Fuel prices vary based on crude oil prices, refinery and pipeline access, transportation costs, local competition and other market conditions.

Texas remains below the national average for both regular gasoline and diesel, while current AAA figures show that drivers in parts of the Panhandle and West Texas are paying more than the statewide average.