Atlanta gas prices ease, but a fill-up still costs nearly $14 more than last year

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North Atlanta drivers are getting some relief at the pump this month, though filling a 15-gallon tank still costs nearly $14 more than it did a year ago.

Regular gasoline averaged $3.80 a gallon across metro Atlanta on Oct. 14, down from $4.03 a month earlier but above last October’s $2.87, according to AAA’s fuel price data.

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For a driver buying 60 gallons a month, those averages translate to roughly $228 in fuel expenses, compared with $172 a year earlier. Actual costs depend on mileage, fuel economy and where drivers fill up.

The local decline comes as the national Consumer Price Index showed inflation accelerating to 3.7% in September. Gasoline was a major contributor, with national prices rising 9.1% from August.

The figures cover different periods: September’s inflation report measures last month’s changes, while AAA’s daily averages show how pump prices have moved since then.

Higher costs for businesses on the road

The gap with last year also raises a question for businesses serving customers across Cumming, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and surrounding communities: how much of the additional fuel expense can they absorb?

For a service business purchasing 300 gallons of regular gasoline a month, the difference between Atlanta’s current and year-earlier averages would add about $279 to its monthly bill. That calculation assumes unchanged fuel use; it does not establish that local businesses have raised their fees.

Diesel costs show an even larger gap. Atlanta’s average was $5.82 a gallon on Oct. 14, compared with $3.53 a year earlier, although it too had fallen since September.

Groceries remain above last year’s prices

Fuel is only part of the household budget pressure. The latest Atlanta-area inflation report, covering August, showed grocery prices up 4.1% over the year. Cereals and bakery products rose 9.6%.

Overall Atlanta-area inflation was 2.9% in August. That metro-wide figure should not be confused with September’s 3.7% national rate, or treated as a separate measurement for any North Atlanta city.

The next Atlanta-area inflation report is scheduled for Nov. 10.