MOSES LAKE — Gasoline prices declined slightly across Grant County, Adams County and much of the nation this week, offering motorists modest relief after a year marked by record-breaking fuel costs.

According to AAA, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline on Oct. 5 was $5.38 per gallon in Grant County and $5.36 per gallon in Adams County. Both counties remained below Washington's statewide average of $5.48 per gallon, which fell 5 cents from $5.53 a week earlier.

The decline mirrors a nationwide trend.

AAA reported the national average for regular gasoline at $4.37 per gallon Monday, more than a dollar below Washington's average and unchanged from a week ago.

The small drop may not seem significant, but it comes after one of the most volatile years fuel buyers have seen in recent memory.

Washington motorists began 2026 paying an average of $3.83 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Prices climbed steadily throughout the winter and spring before reaching a statewide record of $5.79 per gallon on May 20, according to AAA.

Diesel prices followed a similar trajectory.

Washington's diesel average reached an all-time record of $7.47 per gallon Sept. 23. Although diesel prices have eased slightly since then, the statewide average remained at $7.33 per gallon Monday, down from $7.42 a week earlier.

For farmers, trucking companies and businesses that rely heavily on diesel-powered equipment, those elevated costs continue to impact operating budgets even as gasoline prices decline.

The most striking trend may be how dramatically Washington has separated itself from much of the country.

Washington now has the third-highest gasoline prices in the nation, trailing Hawaii at $5.62 per gallon and California at $6.39 per gallon. While Americans are paying an average of $4.37 per gallon nationally, Washington drivers continue paying roughly $1.11 more per gallon.

That gap has persisted throughout much of 2026.

At the beginning of the year, Washington's average fuel price exceeded the national average by about $1 per gallon. Nearly 10 months later, the difference remains largely unchanged despite fluctuations in crude oil markets and regional supply issues.

According to the Washington Department of Revenue, motorists in Washington pay 74.9 cents per gallon in combined state and federal fuel taxes before other costs are added to the price of gasoline.

Yet despite Washington's position among the nation's most expensive fuel markets, drivers in Grant and Adams counties have consistently paid less than the statewide average throughout the year.

In early May, when Washington's average gasoline price climbed to $5.78 per gallon, drivers in Grant County paid $5.60 and drivers in Adams County paid $5.51. That pattern has continued through the fall, with local prices generally running 10 to 15 cents below the statewide average.

For residents of rural counties where long commutes, farm operations and frequent highway travel are common, those differences can add up over time.

GasBuddy analysts say motorists across most of the nation have also begun seeing relief.

"Average gasoline prices fell in 48 states over the last week, with diesel declining in 48 states as well, as a broad-based retreat brought relief to motorists across much of the country," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

"The largest declines were seen in Georgia and Ohio, where recently enacted fuel tax cuts amplified the drop, while price-cycling Florida and much of the Midwest also joined the broader downward trend," De Haan said. "For now, declines may continue in a majority of states, though some price-cycling markets are at risk of an upward swing in gas prices in the days ahead."

De Haan noted that international supply conditions continue affecting prices.

"While oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are rising, refineries behind the Strait are not yet fully able to move products through, keeping gasoline and diesel prices elevated relative to what crude oil levels alone might suggest," he said.

Even with recent declines, fuel remains considerably more expensive than it was a year ago.

AAA data show Washington's average gasoline price was $4.52 per gallon in October 2025. One year later, drivers are paying nearly a dollar more per gallon.

The increase is even more dramatic for diesel. Washington's diesel average stood at $5.06 per gallon a year ago, compared with $7.33 today, an increase of more than $2.25 per gallon.

The broader story of 2026 may not be the recent decline in prices but the speed at which they rose.

Washington's average gasoline price increased from $3.83 per gallon in January to $5.74 per gallon in May, a jump of nearly $2 per gallon in just four months. Prices remained above $5 per gallon statewide every month from April through October.

As a result, what would have been considered exceptionally high fuel prices a year ago have become the new normal for many Washington drivers.

Still, this week's numbers offer a rare piece of good news. After a year of records, even a few cents of relief is welcome news for drivers heading into the fall.