Where to find cheap gas in Mesa

Weeks of sliding gas prices nationwide have concluded as the future of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains uncertain, according to a spokesman with AAA.

But in Arizona, the average for a gallon of regular gasoline is down 7 cents from the week of July 2, AAA stated in a news release.

Nationwide, the average was $3.85 per gallon for 87 octane on July 9 — up 5 cents in the previous 24 hours.

“Crude oil prices are currently in the $70 per barrel range, which is up slightly from last week,” Aldo Vazquez, spokesperson for AAA Mountain West Group, stated in a release. “Easing tensions along the Strait of Hormuz led to weeks of price dips, but renewed conflict may cause continued pain at the pump.”

According to gasbuddy.com the cheapest gas in Mesa is:

• $3.33 at Arco and 76, 1150 W. Baseline Road in Mesa
• $3.48 at Walmart, 240 W. Baseline Road in Mesa.
• $3.49 at Shell, 1510 S. Country Club Drive in Mesa.

Fuel prices around Arizona range from Tucson, which is at $3.76 to Flagstaff at $4.35.

The average for the Phoenix area is closer to Tucson’s at $3.77 per gallon. AAA states Scottsdale is at $3.95 while Yuma’s at $4.07.

The AAA website shows some prices have continued to decline within the Valley. The West Valley average dropped from about $3.80 on July to about $3.72 per gallon on July 9.

According to gasbuddy.com, the cheapest non-club gas in the Valley is in Apache Junction and in northwest Phoenix.

The Marathon & Shell at 1571 W. Apache Trail and In The Zone at 28 N. Signal Butte Road, both in Apache Junction, and the 76 & Shell at 3455 W. Glendale Avenue in Phoenix were all at $3.29.

Nationally, at the close of the July 8 formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate crude rose $3.08 to settle at $73.52 a barrel.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that crude oil inventories increased by 3 million barrels from the previous week. At 411.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Arizona is not among either the 10 most or least expensive states to buy gas in the U.S. The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are Hawaii ($5.46), California ($5.38), Washington ($4.99), Alaska ($4.69), Nevada ($4.55), Oregon ($4.53), New York ($4.06), Illinois ($4.05), Washington, DC ($4.05), and Idaho ($3.99).

Email Jason W. Brooks at jjbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.