Gas Prices in Iowa Soar – When Will it End?

Gas prices have been a hot-button topic in 2022. Costs have soared nationwide and while certain parts of the country are used to paying over $4 or even $5 for a gallon of gas - that's not commonplace in the state of Iowa.

Well, until recently that is. Seeing $4+ for gas is becoming... normal. In fact, as of this writing on Monday, May 9, gas in Waterloo-Cedar Falls is at $4.04/gallon and $3.98/gallon on average according to AAA.

Sadly. As of today, AAA says Iowa's average gas price is $4.00/gallon. This time last year that average was $2.82/gallon.

I'll do the math for you: it's $1.18 higher per gallon this year than in 2021. Diesel is even worse with an average per-gallon cost of $5.31. Up big from $3.03 in 2021.

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If there is any good news, it's that Iowa is still bucking the national trend. $4.32 is the average price of gas per gallon in the United States.

So why is gas going up so high and so fast? With gas up about 10-cents in Iowa from just one week ago, WTHR reports it comes down largely to the European Union tacking on additional sanctions on Russian oil.

With the conflict in Ukraine entering its tenth week and Russia showing no signs of ending it, experts don't expect sanctions to change in the near future. At least not in a favorable way for Russia.

What's also painful to hear is those diesel costs will likely be passed on to consumers, forcing prices of goods to increase more as well.

So what are ways to save fuel this summer as we head into road trip season? AAA has some suggestions:

• Slow down. Go the posted speed limit (UGH, right?). On the highway, you lose fuel economy as speeds increase above 50 mph.
• Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard acceleration.
•  Avoid prolonged idling.
• When driving in town, adjust your speed to “time” the traffic lights.

See more tips from AAA here.

Gas Buddy found the cheapest gas in Iowa to be $3.64/gallon in Council Bluffs. Road trip? Wait, wouldn't that just burn more gas? Nevermind.