Iowans planning to travel for Christmas gatherings will see an expected gift at the pump, as gas prices have dropped to their lowest levels since the height of COVID. As of Tuesday, Dec. 23, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the state was $2.42, down six cents from last week and 36 cents below last year. The national average on Tuesday was down five cents to $2.86 per gallon. As for diesel, prices fell eight cents to $3.31 per gallon, three cents higher than the 2024 holiday season. Local prices are 28 cents lower than the national average of $3.59. At the Des Moines Terminal, E10 was $1.53, Unleaded 87 was $1.73, ULSD #2 was $1.99, ULSD #1 was $2.58, and E70 was $1.72. In heating fuels, propane prices rose three cents to $1.58 per gallon, home heating oil was down 13 cents to $2.80 per gallon, and natural gas prices at the Henry Hub reporting site were up 19 cents to $4.18 per MMBtu.
