Why Gasoline Costs More in Connecticut
- 16 minutes ago
- 1 min read
The average price of a gallon of gas in Connecticut hit $4.62 this past Tuesday, according to AAA—roughly 12 cents higher than the national average. Why the premium? It comes down to a trifecta of taxes:
The Federal Tier: An 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax that hasn't changed since 1993. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has proposed a bill to temporarily suspend this federal tax through October 1st to provide some summer relief.
The State Flat Tax: Connecticut tacks on a fixed 25-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax.
The "Hidden" Percentage: Unlike most states, CT also has a 8.1% petroleum products gross earnings tax. While you don't see it as a separate line item on your receipt, wholesalers pass this cost directly to the station, and ultimately, to your wallet.
Between the Lines: It’s encouraging to see Senator Blumenthal fighting to pause the federal tax, but that’s only a small piece of the puzzle. If we really want relief at the pump, we need the Senator to turn his attention back home and convince Governor Lamont to tackle those unique Connecticut-only taxes that keep us at the top of the "most expensive" list.