Gas prices hit new record high in July

By M. Patricia Titus
Staff Reporter

Record gasoline prices were reached again this week, with average prices for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Delaware hitting $2.37 as of July 19, according to figures from AAA Mid-Atlantic. That topped the national average of $2.31 per gallon, exceeding the national figure by 6 cents.

The average gas price in the state has risen some 23 cents in the last month, 46 cents over the last year. It rose 2 cents on July 18 alone.

The national trended slightly downward this week, dropping 1 cent from $2.32 to $2.31.

As with those in Delaware, average prices in Maryland have also moved higher in recent weeks, rising from $2.16 to $2.35 in the last month — an increase of 19 cents and also the highest average price recorded for that state. Prices in Maryland averaged $1.92 one year ago — the same as the national average for that date.

Across the region, the Philadelphia area tops the list for average gas prices, reaching a record-high $2.42 average price per gallon. That’s up 22 cents from a month ago and also 46 cents from last year’s average price in that five-county area.

Average prices in southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania (state-wide) have trended slightly downward or held steady over the last week but still remain more than 40 cents higher than the average price per gallon from one year ago.