Average price of gas in 2017

1. Why $2.41 is the headline number and where it comes from

The most direct calculation from monthly averages in the provided datasets yields an arithmetic mean of about $2.41 per gallon for 2017, derived by summing monthly retail prices and dividing by 12. Two independent summaries and a tabulation of monthly figures converge on this number: one EIA report states the average explicitly as $2.41 and quantifies the increase from 2016; separate monthly series list values that, when averaged, produce roughly $2.414 ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The datasets distinguish between “regular” formulations and “all grades/all formulations,” but both series in the provided analyses cluster around the $2.4 mark, supporting $2.41 as a robust annual mean ^[2].

2. Alternative averages and why they differ—$2.52 and methodological caveats

One provided table yields a higher calculated annual mean—approximately $2.52 per gallon—because it uses a different monthly series with systematically higher monthly entries. That discrepancy illustrates the key methodological issue: which EIA series you choose (all grades vs. regular-only, monthly simple averages vs. weighted/daily averages) shifts the result ^{[3] [2]}. The higher figure does not contradict the $2.41 finding so much as show how series definition, rounding, or use of city-level versus national aggregates can alter the published annual number. Analysts must specify the exact EIA series and averaging method to avoid confusion ^[3].

3. What caused the 2017 price rise—crude markets and Harvey’s disruption

Multiple summaries attribute the year-over-year rise of roughly $0.27 to higher crude oil prices and to regional supply disruptions, most notably refinery outages after Hurricane Harvey in late August 2017. The EIA narrative explains that crude price pressure plus localized refinery shutdowns elevated pump prices, especially in regions vulnerable to Gulf Coast outages, while differences among regions reflected taxes, fuel-spec rules, and market isolation ^[1]. This causal story is consistent across the provided EIA-based analyses and explains both the seasonal spike and the variance between the Gulf Coast (cheaper) and West Coast (costlier) markets ^[1].

4. Regional variation matters—national averages mask notable differences

The datasets emphasize that national averages hide large city and regional spreads, with examples such as San Francisco hitting $3.28 in November 2017 and Houston seeing weeks at $1.95; the Gulf Coast reported the lowest regional averages while the West Coast carried the highest due to taxes and special fuel requirements ^[1]. This geographic heterogeneity means the national $2.41 figure represents a broad central tendency rather than a uniform price paid by drivers. Policy analysts and journalists should therefore pair the national annual mean with regional or metropolitan series when making claims about consumer impacts ^[1].

5. Data integrity, series selection, and how claims can be framed differently

The supplied analyses show that the same underlying agency (EIA) can produce slightly different headline averages depending on series choice and rounding. One summary presents a clear, rounded headline ($2.41) while others compute the mean from monthly tables that yield $2.414 or $2.52 depending on which table is used ^{[2] [3]}. There is no evidence of deliberate bias in the EIA’s reporting; the variation arises from technical choices. Parties emphasizing consumer pain might highlight the $2.52 series or peak city prices, while those seeking to minimize perceived change might cite the $2.41 national mean—both are fact-based but reflect different framing choices ^{[3] [1]}.

6. Bottom line for readers and recommended citation practice

For accuracy and transparency cite the exact EIA series and the numeric method: use $2.41 per gallon (EIA national annual average, computed from monthly series) as the standard headline and note regional highs/lows and alternative series (e.g., an all-grades table that averages to $2.52) when relevant. Report the causal context—higher crude prices and Hurricane Harvey refinery disruptions—to explain the increase. Where possible, include both the national mean and prominent regional examples to avoid misleading readers through overgeneralization ^{[1] [2]}.