Georgia gas prices hit $3.89 a gallon on Labor Day

Georgians filling up this Labor Day weekend are paying nearly a dollar more per gallon than they were a year ago, with the statewide average reaching $3.89 Sunday.

What’s happening: The statewide average is 98 cents higher than it was this time last year, when Georgia drivers were paying $2.91 a gallon. A standard 15-gallon fill-up now costs about $58.35. Nationally, the average hit $4.14 a gallon, a new Labor Day record, topping the previous mark of $3.82 set in 2012 by 32 cents.

By the numbers: Georgia prices vary by area. The most and least expensive markets in the state:

• Savannah: $3.96
• Hinesville-Fort Stewart: $3.93
• Macon: $3.91
• Atlanta metro: $3.90
• Catoosa-Dade-Walker: $3.83
• Rome: $3.82
• Albany: $3.81

What’s driving it: Crude oil prices above $90 a barrel are keeping fuel costs high, outweighing the seasonal drop in demand that typically brings prices down in the fall. “After a record-setting August, Labor Day weekend is shaping up to make history at the pump as well. Elevated crude oil prices and strong travel demand have combined to push fuel costs higher,” said Montrae Waiters, a spokeswoman for AAA.

What’s new: Georgia’s current average of $3.89 is 11 cents higher than last week and 7 cents higher than last month. The state’s all-time high was $4.49 a gallon, set June 15, 2022.

Despite the cost: “Despite the added expense, many Georgians still chose to hit the road and make the most of the long holiday weekend,” Waiters said.