Twin Cities gas prices surge 18 cents in one week, now averaging $4.19 per gallon

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Drivers in the Twin Cities are feeling the pinch at the pump, and the numbers show it's only getting worse.

Gas prices climb sharply across the region

What we know:

According to GasBuddy's survey of 1,106 stations in the Twin Cities, the average price of gasoline has risen 18.2 cents per gallon over the last week, now sitting at $4.19 per gallon. That's 6.5 cents higher than a month ago and $1.18 more per gallon than this time last year.

The gap between the cheapest and most expensive stations in the Twin Cities was wide. The lowest price recorded Sunday was $3.60 per gallon, while the highest was $4.39 — a difference of 79 cents. Statewide, that spread was even larger, ranging from $3.46 to $4.85 per gallon, a difference of $1.39.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline rose 2.9 cents per gallon over the last week to $4.05 per gallon. That's 92.6 cents higher than a year ago, though it is down 5 cents from a month ago. GasBuddy compiles its national data from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering more than 150,000 stations across the country.

Neighboring areas are also seeing increases. Minnesota's statewide average is $4.13 per gallon, up 16.8 cents from last week's $3.96. Wisconsin is at $3.91 per gallon, up 3.1 cents from $3.88 last week. Sioux Falls is slightly lower at $3.90 per gallon, down 5.4 cents from $3.95 last week.

What they're saying:

"Average gasoline prices moved higher in the majority of states over the last week, with fewer than 10 states seeing declines, while diesel surged nearly 17 cents per gallon nationally, leaving it less than 25 cents away from an all-time record high," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "Gasoline, while not at all-time records, is at its highest level ever recorded this late in the calendar year, meaning Americans could for the first time ever see a national average price of gasoline above $4 per gallon on Labor Day — eclipsing the previous record of $3.83 per gallon set in 2012."

"While some oil shipments are apparently getting through the Strait of Hormuz, the dominant force propping up both gasoline and diesel prices is increasingly the growing loss of Russian refinery capacity," De Haan said, "as continued Ukrainian attacks knock more facilities offline and constrain the global supply of refined fuels. Until that refining supply picture improves, both gasoline and diesel prices face continued upward pressure."

Diesel prices near record territory

By the numbers:

The national average price of diesel has increased 16.6 cents compared to a week ago, now standing at $5.584 per gallon — less than 25 cents away from an all-time record high.

Looking back over the past five years, Twin Cities gas prices on Aug. 24 tell a clear story of rising costs:

• August 24, 2021: $3.02 per gallon (U.S. average: $3.14)
• August 24, 2022: $3.90 per gallon (U.S. average: $3.86)
• August 24, 2023: $3.74 per gallon (U.S. average: $3.80)
• August 24, 2024: $3.22 per gallon (U.S. average: $3.33)
• August 24, 2025: $3.00 per gallon (U.S. average: $3.12)

What we don't know:

It remains unclear how long prices will continue to climb or when the loss of Russian refining capacity — driven by ongoing Ukrainian attacks on fuel facilities — might stabilize and ease pressure on global fuel supplies.

The Source: GasBuddy survey of 1,106 Twin Cities stations and national data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering more than 150,000 stations.