Mississippi has nation's lowest gas prices for Memorial Day weekend

According to data from the American Automobile Association, Mississippi has the nation's lowest gas prices.

A gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.06 per gallon, 54 cents below the national average of $3.60. That's four cents less than last month, but seven cents higher than the same time last year.

The lowest gas prices are in Smith and Leake counties in central Mississippi at $2.99 per gallon. The highest prices are in Claiborne County in the southwest corner of the state at $3.45 per gallon.

As far as Mississippi's metro areas, the Jackson area has the state's lowest average price at $3.02 per gallon, trailed by Southaven-Olive Branch ($3.04) south of Memphis, the three-county Gulf Coast region ($3.05) and Hattiesburg ($3.10).

In Mississippi, state and federal taxes add 37.19 cents to each gallon, with Mississippi having the second-lowest state levy at 18.79 cents per gallon, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute.

Trailing the Magnolia State for the lowest prices for a gallon of regular is Arkansas ($3.09) followed by Oklahoma ($3.12), Kansas ($3.13) and Louisiana ($3.16).

The highest gas prices for a gallon of regular nationally are found in California at $5.14 per gallon, followed by Hawaii ($4.79), Washington ($4.57), Oregon ($4.33) and Nevada ($4.32).

"Since the pandemic, the summer driving season has not seen a surge in demand, which can push pump prices higher," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson in a news release. "So it will be interesting to see if this year bucks that trend. This week's move by the Biden Administration to sell off the million barrel Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve might help stave off any regional pump price surges, but likely won't move the national average that much."