Gas Prices Surge in Southeast Wisconsin Ahead of Memorial Day

MILWAUKEE, Wis (Civic Media) – Drivers in southeastern Wisconsin are paying sharply higher prices at the pump as the Memorial Day holiday travel period begins.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Milwaukee County reached $3.77 on Friday, according to AAA. That’s up 29 cents from a week ago and a dime since yesterday.  In Waukesha County, the average spiked to $3.81 per gallon.  To the west in Jefferson County, the current average is $3.37 per gallon.  

It’s not much better in Racine and Kenosha Counties, with averages going into the weekend at $3.75 and $3.77 respectively.  

The surge comes as AAA forecasts a record 38.4 million drivers will hit the roads nationwide for Memorial Day travel, despite prices that are about 50 cents higher than this time last year.

The price spikes in southeastern Wisconsin are being driven by rising demand and tightening supplies, according to analysts. Gasoline demand rose unexpectedly last week to 9.31 million barrels per day across the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration.

Across Wisconsin, the average price for regular gas on Friday was $3.68 per gallon, up 8 cents from a week ago, AAA data showed. Nationally, the average stood at $3.61, an increase of just a penny over the last seven days.

The Biden administration announced this week it would sell off 1 million barrels from the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve in an effort to moderate potential price spikes during the holiday.