Drivers shopping around for midgrade gasoline in Baldwin County caught a break in the week ending May 24, with the lowest reported price at a single station landing at $2.84 per gallon, according to price reports submitted by drivers to GasBuddy.com.
That standout price was well below the countywide average for midgrade fuel, which came in at $3.16 per gallon across Baldwin County during the same week. Of the 144 gas stations in the county tracked in GasBuddy’s reporting, only 41 offer midgrade as an option, meaning most drivers looking for that middle grade between regular and premium have a more limited set of choices than those simply filling up with regular unleaded.
Statewide, the picture was roughly similar. Alabama’s average price for midgrade gas held steady at $3.16 per gallon, essentially flat from $3.17 the week before — a sign that, at least for the moment, prices across the state have leveled off rather than continuing to climb or fall sharply.
Gas prices of any grade remain a moving target for household budgets in South Alabama, where long commutes between bedroom communities and job centers in Mobile and Baldwin counties make fuel costs a meaningful monthly expense for many families. The prices reported here reflect cash transactions rather than credit card purchases; because surcharges for using a credit card are permitted in most states — though banned in 10 of them — drivers paying by card at some stations may see a slightly higher price at the pump than what’s reflected in these weekly averages.
The broader trend in gas prices over the past several years has been anything but steady. Supply disruptions, shifting consumer demand and geopolitical tensions — including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the resulting U.S. and European Union sanctions on Russian oil, as well as more recent sanctions targeting Russian oil tankers — have all pushed prices higher at various points. Add in lingering effects from the pandemic and the usual seasonal surge in summer travel demand, and it’s no surprise local prices have swung anywhere from the low $3 range up past $4 a gallon depending on the week and the station.
Federal energy forecasters, however, see some of that volatility easing. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook points to gradually stabilizing global oil markets as supply chains continue to recover and domestic production increases. The agency notes that while seasonal spikes in demand can still cause temporary jumps, improved production and inventory levels are expected to help moderate those swings going forward. At the same time, trade policy — including tariffs affecting oil imported from Canada and Mexico — is adding cost pressure on refiners that could eventually filter down to consumers at the pump.
As always, the numbers represent a snapshot in time. Gas prices can and do fluctuate daily, sometimes even hour to hour, so the station offering the best deal on midgrade fuel one week in Baldwin County may not be the cheapest the next.