MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Tennessee motorists received a rare and somewhat emotional gift this week at the gas pump: prices that actually moved downward instead of performing their usual Olympic-level leap into wallet destruction.
Across the Volunteer State, fuel costs declined by an average of 21-cents over the past week. Between Monday and Tuesday alone, the statewide average for regular unleaded slipped another three pennies, settling at $3.90 per gallon Tuesday afternoon. While that figure remains roughly $1.20 higher than this time last year, drivers appear willing to celebrate any decrease that does not require financing through a small home equity loan.
The latest numbers also show Tennessee climbing higher on the national list of states with the least painful prices. By Tuesday, the state improved its standing from the 10th cheapest market in America to the 9th lowest.
Indiana currently holds bragging rights for the most affordable regular unleaded in the nation at $3.63 per gallon. Texas rolled into second place at $3.77, while Oklahoma parked in third with an average of $3.79.
Here in Rutherford County, motorists saw modest relief over the past 24-hours. The local average in Murfreesboro dropped four cents to $3.78 per gallon. That still means many drivers continue staring at the pump display like it is calculating a monthly mortgage payment.
Neighboring Bedford County once again delivered a slightly friendlier experience for commuters willing to venture south, where regular fuel averaged $3.67 per gallon. Coffee County also came in below Rutherford, with Manchester-area stations posting an average around $3.73.
Meanwhile, Cannon County apparently decided inflation should remain a lifestyle choice. In the Woodbury area, regular unleaded climbed to an eyebrow-raising $4.05 per gallon. And if paying extra for absolutely no emotional benefit sounds appealing, Williamson County continues offering premium-level disappointment at nearly every exit ramp.
Drivers with vehicles requiring premium gasoline may want to sit down before continuing. Tennessee ranked 12th nationally this week for lower premium prices, although “lower” remains a highly flexible term. The statewide average for high-octane fuel landed at $4.78 per gallon.
For owners of full-size Chevrolet and GMC trucks equipped with 24-gallon tanks, a complete refill now circles the $115 mark. A Chevrolet Suburban with its 28-gallon tank can hum along proudly after consuming approximately $134 worth of premium fuel. Of course, Californians continue playing on expert mode, where filling that same SUV would cost roughly $181. At that point, the gasoline should probably include complimentary concert tickets and a shoulder massage.
California again carried the burden of having the nation’s highest fuel costs at just over $6.03 per gallon. Washington state followed behind at approximately $5.71, which somehow qualifies as “better” only because it is slightly less terrifying.
Diesel users are also seeing tiny improvements, although celebration may still be limited to a respectful golf clap. Tennessee entered the Top 20 Cheapest States for diesel pricing this week after a one-cent decline pushed the state into the number 12 spot nationally. Diesel averaged $5.02 per gallon Tuesday evening.
Oklahoma continues leading the country for lowest diesel prices at $4.74 per gallon, proving once again that somewhere in America, truckers are smiling at fuel receipts instead of framing them as evidence in future financial hardship cases.
