The average Arizona driver will pay $68.29 more at the pump in May 2022 than they did in May 2021, according to an analysis of gas prices from the AAA motor club and Federal Highway Administration (FHA) data by Grand Canyon Times.
Arizona drivers will pay an average of $4.57 per gallon of regular gasoline this month versus $3.05 last year. This is a 49.7 percent increase equaling $1.52 per gallon.
Of the 14 Arizona metropolitan areas analyzed, drivers in East Valley faced the largest price hike at the pump in the last year of $70.32. Yuma was spared the worst pain, with the price of gas rising $61.98 from May 2021 to May 2022.
Gas prices across the US hit a seven-year high following a significant drop at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The price of gas, derived from the cost of oil manufactured around the world, has the power to substantially change the free market and influence many industries.
A short-term outlook report from the US Energy Information Administration predicted gas rates will fall throughout 2022.
Arizona drivers average 1,090.8 miles and use 45.1 gallons of gasoline per month, according to the FHA.
| Market | 2022 | 2021 | CHG | % | Total increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Valley | $4.62 | $3.06 | $1.56 | 51.0% | $70.32 |
| Glendale | $4.60 | $3.04 | $1.56 | 51.2% | $70.27 |
| Flagstaff | $4.71 | $3.15 | $1.56 | 49.4% | $70.09 |
| Lake Havasu-Kingman | $4.73 | $3.19 | $1.55 | 48.5% | $69.69 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | $4.61 | $3.06 | $1.54 | 50.4% | $69.55 |
| Prescott | $4.59 | $3.04 | $1.54 | 50.7% | $69.55 |
| Scottsdale | $4.68 | $3.15 | $1.54 | 48.8% | $69.19 |
| West Valley | $4.57 | $3.04 | $1.53 | 50.3% | $69.01 |
| Phoenix Proper | $4.57 | $3.04 | $1.53 | 50.2% | $68.88 |
| Peoria | $4.54 | $3.05 | $1.50 | 49.1% | $67.39 |
| Pima County | $4.37 | $2.91 | $1.46 | 50.1% | $65.68 |
| Tucson | $4.37 | $2.91 | $1.45 | 49.9% | $65.50 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $4.43 | $3.04 | $1.39 | 45.7% | $62.66 |
| Yuma | $4.49 | $3.12 | $1.38 | 44.1% | $61.98 |
