Indiana gas prices plunge as national average holds steady

INDIANA — Hoosier drivers are seeing significant relief at the pump this week as Indiana leads the nation in falling gasoline prices. According to the latest GasBuddy survey of 3,271 stations across the state, the average price of regular unleaded in Indiana has dropped 14.6 cents per gallon over the last seven days, landing at $2.71/g today.

This sharp decline puts Indiana prices 9.4 cents lower than a month ago and 21.0 cents lower than this time last year.

Local and Regional Trends

While the statewide average sits at $2.71/g, savvy shoppers found even steeper discounts. GasBuddy reports a wide price spread across the state:

• Lowest Price Reported: $2.18/g
• Highest Price Reported: $3.19/g
• Price Gap: $1.01/g

Regionally, the downward trend was most visible in major metro areas. Indianapolis saw a substantial 16.9-cent drop to an average of $2.68/g, while Cincinnati prices tumbled 21.4 cents to reach $2.59/g.

In contrast to Indiana’s double-digit decline, the national average for gasoline fell a modest 0.9 cents, averaging $2.83/g today. Despite the slight weekly dip, the national average remains 3.9 cents higher than a month ago, though it is still 21.3 cents lower than a year ago.

Diesel fuel also saw a decrease, with the national average dropping 4.2 cents to $3.585 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted that Indiana’s volatility is part of a “price-cycling” pattern common in the Midwest.

“While oil prices jumped to their highest level in months amid geopolitical tensions and supply concerns, the national average saw little change,” De Haan said. “Just over half of states saw gas prices decline, led by Indiana and Ohio. Meanwhile, prices are rising across much of the West Coast as the transition to summer gasoline begins.”

De Haan warned that Indiana’s current dip might be short-lived as the rest of the country prepares for seasonal increases and refinery maintenance.

Five-Year Historical Comparison (Feb. 2)