MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Tennessee gas prices have been inching up since the first of the year, but AAA says the increases likely will not impact plans for summer travel.
The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular fuel stands at $2.41 here in Tennessee, that’s 24 cents below the national average and more than a dollar below gas prices this time last year.
AAA Fuel Analyst Mark Jenkins says fuel prices will continue to inch up, but he still expects record travel during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. AAA estimates 35.5 million Americans will hit the roads this year, the highest travel volume in a decade.
“The reason we’re seeing this overall increase in travel numbers is because of overall improvements in the economy. You’ve got rising wages, plus lower gas prices. That means more disposable income; more money in people’s pockets that they can use to finance their travel plans.”
The Clarksville area has Tennessee’s cheapest gas today at $2.33 for a gallon of unleaded. Metro Nashville motorists are paying slightly more than the state average at $2.43 a gallon.