Demand for gasoline settled at 8.6 million barrels a day last week, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) — down 174,000 barrels a day from the previous week and 72,000 below the comparable week of last year. That’s the softest demand figure for this time of year since 2022, and a key factor in the subdued seasonal rise in prices.
On the supply side of the equation, gasoline inventories in the Northeast remain above normal, standing at 61.6 million barrels — well above last year’s level as well as the five-year average, which were 58.2 million and 59 million barrels, respectively. There was a 1.2 million drop in barrel supply last week, according to EIA data. But demand wasn’t the cause; production is down as seasonal maintenance at regional refineries is ongoing.
Beyond supply and demand forces, concerns about tariff policies and inflation data that came in higher than forecasted last week are weighing heavily on crude and refined product prices.
“After trending down since January, pump prices across the Northeast are finally beginning to climb in line with seasonal expectations but remain well below what we were seeing this time last year,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “Compared to 2024, pump prices remain between 30 and 40 cents cheaper today.”
AAA Northeast’s March 31 survey of fuel prices found the current national average up 4 cents from last week ($3.12), averaging $3.16/gallon. The March 31 national average price is a nickel higher than a month ago ($3.11) and 37 cents lower than this day last year ($3.53).
| Region | Current Price* | One Week Ago | One Month Ago | One Year Ago |
| Connecticut | $3.04 | $3.01 | $3.07 | $3.44 |
| Massachusetts | $2.97 | $2.95 | $3.02 | $3.31 |
| New Jersey | $2.96 | $2.94 | $3.01 | $3.27 |
| New York | $3.11 | $3.10 | $3.16 | $3.44 |
| Rhode Island | $2.95 | $2.92 | $2.99 | $3.30 |
*Prices as of March 31, 2025
As of March 31, Mississippi and Oklahoma held the lowest prices in the nation, at $2.68 and $2.70, respectively. California and Hawaii held the highest prices in the nation at $4.80 and $4.51, respectively.
The AAA Gas Prices website is your resource for up-to-date fuel price information. Search for average gas prices on national, state and metro levels by regular, plus, premium and diesel.
