North Carolina has experienced stable gas prices for the past two weeks, with the average price standing at $3.50 per gallon. This price is 30 cents cheaper than the national average across the United States. The state's gas sales have defied the usual end-of-summer trend of plummeting prices, with both North and South Carolina experiencing different price ranges. In South Carolina, gas prices range from $2.72 to $3.69, varying significantly within a dollar range. Despite these differences, the national average gas price continues to increase daily.
According to a report by Spectrum News 1, experts have noted that gasoline demand this summer did not meet expectations, and vacation travel did not contribute significantly to consumption, despite retail gasoline prices being lower than last year. Additionally, the recent hurricane and holiday weekends have led to increased travel, thus affecting gas prices in the Carolina area.
In other news related to the gas crisis in North Carolina, the state's Secretary of Transportation, Eric Boyette, will be retiring in October. Boyette, who has held the position since 2017, will be replaced by Joseph R. “Joey” Hopkins, the Department of Transportation Chief Operating Officer. Governor Cooper expressed his gratitude for Boyette's hard work and commitment and expressed confidence in Hopkins' ability to continue the outstanding work as the new DOT Secretary.
Overall, North Carolina residents can expect stable gas prices for the time being, remaining $0.30 lower than the national average. However, with changing factors such as travel demand and leadership transitions in the transportation sector, it remains to be seen how long this stability will last.
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