GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Paying at the pump isn’t as painful right now as it has been recently, both nationwide and in Wisconsin.
The cost to fill up your tank in Green Bay is at its lowest point in months.
“There’s definitely a big difference,” said Bryce Stenstrup. “You can definitely tell when I’m filling it up. I forgot how much it would’ve been like a few months ago, but it’s definitely lower than what it used to be, so it’s nice to be able to see that.”
Stenstrup lives in Oconto and commutes to Green Bay for work. He filled up his truck Wednesday at the Kwik Trip on Lombardi Avenue, where it costs less than $3 per gallon.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis with Gas Buddy, tells FOX 11 the average price in Green Bay is about $3.04.
“They’re not going to be paying nearly as much as they did last year, when over Thanksgiving, average prices in Green Bay were closer to $3.50 a gallon.”
De Haan expects similar prices through the winter months.
“Prices should stay relatively low through the course of at least February before things start heating back up.”
He also believes the statewide average for a gallon of gas could fall below $3 come December.
“I do think that’s a very good shot. I’d probably say the odds of Wisconsin’s state average falling below $3 are probably better than 75%,” said De Haan.
Gas is just one of the signs inflation could be cooling down.
On Wednesday, the Labor Department reported wholesale prices dropped half a percent from September to October. Still, consumer prices from last month are 3.2% higher than this time last year.
For people like Stenstrup, saving money at the pump means they’re able to spend more come the holidays.
“Definitely for gifts with Black Friday coming up and everything like that, I’ll definitely have more money in my pocket to be able to go out and give gifts for my family.”
According to GasBuddy, the national average price of gas is projected to save Americans roughly $1.2 billion during holiday travel compared to last year.
