Gas prices in Wisconsin up 50% over Memorial Day weekend last year
Jake PrinsenYou're going to be paying more for gas this Memorial Day weekend than last year - quite a bit more.
In Wisconsin, the current average is $2.86, up more than 50% from $1.89 from the same time last year, according to the American Automobile Association.
Nationally, AAA predicts motorists will pay the most expensive gas prices since the 2014 Memorial Day weekend.
The national average has stabilized following the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, but prices are likely to change leading up to the holiday, according to the organization.
Last weekend, the national gas price average declined 1 cent to $3.03, which was the first decrease in two weeks. This week, the average is 17 cents more than last month and $1.12 more than last year.
Prices are up across Wisconsin. Here's a sample of average prices Thursday:
Brown County: $2.83
Calumet County: $2.79
Dane County: $2.78
Door County: $2.94
Fond du Lac County: $2.72
Kewaunee County: $2.87
Lincoln County: $2.89
Manitowoc County: $2.85
Marathon County: $2.87
Milwaukee County: $2.91
Oconto County: $2.88
Outagamie County: $2.74
Portage County: $2.84
Sheboygan County: $2.83
Winnebago County: $2.82
Wood County: $2.80
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For those headed up north this weekend, prices may be even higher. The average price of gas Thursday in Vilas and Oneida counties was $2.97, Forest County's average was $2.92 and Marinette County's was $2.87.
AAA spokesperson Jeanette McGee said increased travel demand will lead to higher prices no matter where you fill up, so motorists should plan ahead.
“AAA expects 37 million Americans to travel, mostly by car and plane, for the Memorial Day holiday weekend,” McGee said. “That is a 60% increase over last year’s holiday and a strong indication that summer travel is going to be largely popular.”
Contact Jake Prinsen at jprinsen@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PrinsenJake.