Gas Prices Predicted To Rise Across Various U.S. States

Filling up your car could cost as much as $3 extra in the coming weeks, after an announcement from OPEC that oil production will be cut due to the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict.

OPEC and allied oil-producing nations met in Vienna on Wednesday, backing a plan to cut oil output by 2 million barrels per day, around 2 percent of global supply of gas.

Gas prices have already risen again, with the AAA reporting on Wednesday that the national average has gone up to about $3.83 per gallon, costing around $55 to refuel an average car.

The decision by the OPEC is expected to hit U.S. families in the next two weeks or so, as national gas prices could rise by anywhere between 10 and 20 cents per gallon, a GasBuddy spokesperson told Newsweek.

How much is it going to cost me to refuel my car?

Gas prices currently stand at a national average of $3.83 per gallon, but prices vary across states.

California currently has gas prices averaging $6.42 a gallon, whereas Mississippi boasts average gas prices at $3.15.

With average tank sizes in the U.S. ranging from 13 to 16 gallons, the average motorist is likely to see a $2.90 increase to fill up their vehicle.

Which states are prices expected to rise?

Overall, experts are predicting a price rise of between 10 and 20 cents, but they aren't sure yet how widespread the problem might be.

GasBuddy spokesperson Nicole Petersen said some states have already seen a rise in their gas prices.

She said: "Effects will be seen in varying amounts in different parts of the country. We've already seen prices begin to increase in the South and Northeast, where prices had been stable in recent weeks."

Meanwhile, Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, tweeted that those based in the South, Northeast, the East Coast and the Rockies will likely see the biggest increases.

Even so, there is potentially good news on the horizon for those in states that have seen huge fluctuations in their gas prices over recent weeks.

Petersen said: "However, areas on the West Coast and some of the Great Lakes states, which have seen massive price spikes over the last few weeks due to refinery issues, will likely continue to see prices drop, though by not as much as originally anticipated."

When will gas prices come down again?

Those across the West Coast and the Great Lakes could see some relief as gas prices stabilize in the coming days. This may take a little while longer for the rest of the country might take a little while longer.

Petersen said that prices will likely remain higher until the demand on gas is alleviated or the U.S. government is able to free up more of its strategic reserves.

"Overall, we likely won't see prices decrease again until we see a reduction in demand or something is done to alleviate the tightness in oil supply," she said. "The President's release of additional oil from the strategic petroleum reserve and recent talks of easing sanctions on Venezuela have the potential to mitigate oil prices and help push gas prices back down.

"However, as mentioned, states on the West Coast and in the Great Lakes that have already seen massive price spikes should continue to decline in the days ahead."