RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS News) - Tennessee drivers, particularly those behind the wheel of diesel-powered trucks — may want to avoid making prolonged eye contact with the numbers spinning on the gas pump. According to AAA, the Auto Club, the average price of diesel in the Volunteer State has climbed to $5.33 per gallon, putting Tennessee just 33 cents below its all-time record. For drivers who thought filling up was already painful, history suggests there is still room for the pump to deliver another financial uppercut.
Tennessee's record diesel price came four years ago, and apparently the word "middle" was the theme of the day. It happened in the middle of summer, in the middle of the month and in the middle of the week. According to AAA, diesel reached a statewide average of $5.64 per gallon on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. That remains the Tennessee record, although current prices are getting uncomfortably close.
Drivers using regular unleaded are getting at least a little relief in Rutherford County compared with much of the state. On Tuesday evening, regular 87-octane gasoline was averaging $3.58 per gallon in Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne. That placed Rutherford County at No. 18 among Tennessee's 95 counties for the lowest average gasoline prices, meaning local prices were cheaper than those found in roughly three-quarters of the state. Drivers willing to head south could save a few more pennies, with neighboring Bedford County averaging about 5 cents less per gallon.
Those looking for more expensive gasoline don't have to travel very far. The Brentwood and Franklin area was averaging about $3.87 per gallon for regular unleaded, making it one of the more costly places to fill up in Middle Tennessee. Nashville was averaging approximately $3.70 per gallon. That price difference gives commuters another reason to consider filling their tanks after crossing into Rutherford or Wilson counties, where motorists may save roughly 10 to 15 cents per gallon. Of course, driving 20 miles to save $2 on a tank of gas may somewhat defeat the purpose.
Luxury vehicle owners aren't escaping the squeeze either. Premium gasoline is averaging $4.54 per gallon statewide, about 92 cents higher than 12 months ago. Apparently, premium vehicles occasionally come with premium-sized fuel receipts.
Despite the sticker shock, Tennessee remains comparatively inexpensive for diesel when stacked against the rest of the country. As of Tuesday evening, the Volunteer State ranked 13th among states with the lowest diesel prices. Oklahoma held the top spot for the nation's least expensive diesel, averaging about $5.15 per gallon. "Least expensive," of course, is a relative term when five bucks buys approximately one gallon.
The current numbers also bring back memories of Tennessee's 2022 fuel-price surge. Just three days before diesel eventually reached its record $5.64 average, regular unleaded set a Tennessee record of approximately $4.64 per gallon. That period coincided with aggressive efforts by the Federal Reserve to combat inflation. On June 15, 2022, the central bank increased its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percentage points, which at the time represented its largest increase in nearly three decades. Higher borrowing costs were intended to cool inflation, while elevated fuel prices were simultaneously increasing transportation expenses for businesses and households. In other words, borrowing money was becoming more expensive at about the same time driving to the bank was becoming more expensive.
Still, Tennessee's diesel prices look almost economical compared with portions of the West Coast and Pacific. California motorists are paying an average of approximately $7.18 per gallon for diesel, while Hawaii follows at about $7.03. Washington ranks third among the highest-priced states at approximately $6.33 per gallon. At those prices, filling a large diesel pickup can quickly turn into a transaction that feels less like buying fuel and more like making a small mortgage payment.
