Central Mass. gasoline prices jump following conflict in the Middle East
Photo I WBJ File
Worcester County gas prices have remained unchanged for the past month.
Northeast pump prices jumped nine cents in response to the conflict between Iran and Israel in the Middle East.
Worcester County gas prices increased 8 cents from the average price of $2.99 per gallon seen on June 5. Middlesex County saw a 4-cent increase from the June 5 average of $3.03.
Worcester County gas prices averaged $3.08 per gallon, the fifth-cheapest in the state following Bristol, Plymouth, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. Middlesex County is the 11th-cheapest gas in the state, averaging $3.13 per gallon. Nantucket County has the highest gas prices in the state, averaging at $4.50 a gallon, $1.48 higher than the cheapest gas in the state in Bristol County.
The increase in gas prices stems largely from the Iran and Israel conflict that broke out on June 13 and was intensified when the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. As oil and gas markets prepare for continued conflict or Iran's potential to block oil shipments to the U.S., oil and gas companies face pressure to tighten their inventories, which may lead to increased gas prices, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
“It should come as no surprise to see prices at the pump spike after an escalating geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, but it’s not the only factor driving recent price increases, prices were already poised to climb on stronger summer demand and seasonal expectations,” Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast, said in a Monday press release by the organization.
Massachusetts gas prices have cost customers an average of $3.10 as of June 24, 2025, a price that remains below the national average of $3.22, according to a Monday press release. Last week, gas prices averaged $3.17 nationally and increased by 6 cents this week. Massachusetts saw an average of $3.01, which is 8 cents lower than this week’s average.
Inventories of oil and gas fell last week, with oil stocks falling 12 million barrels as more oil is exported and more gasoline and diesel are produced domestically. In the Northeast, gasoline supplies shrank to 58.7 million barrels.
Last week, the EIA reported that the gasoline demand reached 9.29 million barrels a day, over last week's reading, which predicted 9.17 million barrels a day.
Lucy Coran is an editorial intern for Worcester Business Journal and a rising sophomore at Smith College.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments