PHOENIX, AZ - As the countdown to the Thanksgiving holiday continues, motorists are continuing to see pump prices hold steady as millions prepare to take the roads next week. Statewide, the current fuel average is $2.600 per gallon, an increase of 1.2 cents from last week. Today’s nationwide average sits at $2.638 per gallon, a drop of 1.2 cents from last week.

Yesterday, AAA released its annual Thanksgiving travel forecast, which projects 33.2 million auto travelers will hit the road nationally, an increase of 2.1 percent from last year. Of those, 581,000 motorists will derive from Arizona, which is nearly flat compared to year ago figures.

“The number of travelers planning to take to the roads next week provides insight into how consumers feel about making the trek to see family and friends this year," said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “The forecast reveals that consumers are comfortable enough to not let higher fuel prices hinder their travel plans, despite fuel prices sitting 59 cents higher nationally and 36 cents higher here in Arizona, compared to year ago levels.”

In Arizona, Tucson drivers continue to pay the least for fuel in the state with an average of $2.434 per gallon, while Flagstaff motorists continue to pay the most to fill their tanks with an average fuel price of $2.750 per gallon. Nationwide, Missouri motorists are paying the nation’s lowest fuel price with an average of $2.443 per gallon, while California motorists continue to pay the most for fuel in the lower 48 states with an average of $2.946 per gallon.

Motorists can visit www.AAAAZ.com/news/fuelnews.htm for fuel price information and gas saving tips or go to www.AAA.com/fuelfinder to locate the station with the cheapest gas in their neighborhood. They can also visit AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator at www.fuelcostcalculator.com, which can help drivers plan out their fuel costs so they can budget their travel expenses in advance.

*The BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is the nationwide average price of E-85 adjusted to reflect the lower energy content as expressed in British Thermal Units - and hence miles per gallon - available in a gallon of E-85 as compared to the same volume of conventional gasoline. The BTU-adjusted price calculated by OPIS and AAA is not an actual retail average price paid by consumers. It is calculated and displayed as part of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report because according to the Energy Information Administration E-85 delivers approximately 25 percent fewer BTUs by volume than conventional gasoline. Because "flexible fuel" vehicles can operate on conventional fuel and E-85, the BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is essential to understanding the cost implications of each fuel choice for consumers.

AAA Arizona’s Weekly Fuel Gauge includes data from gasoline stations in every Arizona community. However, only major metropolitan areas are shown in the table above.  Local prices in some communities might be higher or lower than the averages shown here.