Hale County drivers are paying more than $4 a gallon for regular gasoline as fuel prices across Alabama have spiked to their highest levels since 2022.
The average price for a gallon of regular in Hale County stood at $4.11 on Monday, above the statewide average of $4.006, according to AAA. Perry County had the highest average in the state at $4.27, followed by Wilcox County at $4.23. Marengo County, at $3.93, was one of the few counties in the region still below $4.
The increase has been swift. In mid-February, the Alabama statewide average was just $2.61 per gallon, meaning prices have climbed roughly $1.39 in less than three months. A year ago, the statewide average was $2.73.
The statewide average was $3.79 just a week ago and $3.83 a month ago before crossing the $4 threshold this week.
Alabama’s prices remain well below the national average of $4.48 per gallon, and far below states like California, where drivers are paying nearly $5.84. But the gap between rural Black Belt counties and the state average has been widening. Rural counties with fewer gas stations and greater distance from major distribution points typically pay more, and the current spike has made that disparity more pronounced.
Rising crude oil costs tied to ongoing conflict in the Middle East have been a major driver of the increases, with oil prices climbing nearly 50 percent since the start of the conflict, according to industry analysts.
