As motorists get ready for the arrival of spring, they enjoyed a slight dip in prices at the gas pump.

Average gasoline prices in Modesto have fallen 3.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.41/gallon as of March 17, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 201 stations in Modesto. Prices in Modesto are 29.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 24.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 5.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.55 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Modesto was priced at $3.79 while the most expensive was $5.29, a difference of $1.50/gallon. The lowest price in the state was $3.46 while the highest was $8.09, a difference of $4.63/gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.02/gallon on Monday, March 17. The national average is down 10.6 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 42.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Historical gasoline prices in Modesto and the national average going back ten years show the highest average in Modesto was $5.57 per gallon on March 17, 2022 with the highest U.S. average of $4.28 per gallon registered on that same date. The lowest price locally of $2.42 per gallon was recorded in Modesto on March 17, 2016 and that date was also when the lowest U.S. average price of $1.96 per gallon was reported at the pumps.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices include: Stockton - $4.31/gallon, down 12.0 cents from $4.43; Oakland - $4.69, down 6.0 cents from $4.75; and San Jose - $4.67, down 3.6 cents per gallon from last week’s $4.70/gallon.

“As concerns over tariffs and policy uncertainties grow, gas prices have continued to decline across much of the country, raising the possibility that the national average could slip below $3 per gallon and approach some of the lowest prices seen in years,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “However, this decline shouldn’t necessarily be celebrated, as it comes with strong warning signs. When the economy slows, gasoline demand drops – along with demand for other refined products like diesel and jet fuel. We’ve already seen some signals that the months ahead could be challenging. All of this suggests that gas prices are likely to remain low for now. However, if economic conditions improve, gas prices could eventually follow suit and start rising again.”

GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data. GasBuddy’s survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the country.