The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Seattle, Bellevue and Everett on Tuesday was $5.72, an all-time high.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — With Seattle-area gas prices at an all-time high, Washington lawmakers are calling on Gov. Bob Ferguson to temporarily lift the tax burden on consumers to provide short-term relief.
When asked about the potential for a tax holiday, Ferguson placed blame on President Donald Trump, telling Washingtonians to direct their concerns to him.
“The pain is coming from Donald Trump in this outrageous war in the Middle East that seems to have no end. If people are concerned about the gas prices, they should call up Donald Trump and tell him, ‘Hey, end that war, and get our gas prices under control.’ That’s our focus right now,” Ferguson told KING 5.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Seattle, Bellevue and Everett on Tuesday was $5.72, an all-time high, according to AAA. That surpasses the previous record set in June 2022. Prices are up 11 cents from a week ago and 19 cents from a month ago.
Washington carries the third-highest gas tax in the country at 55 cents per gallon, and that burden is set to grow. A 2% increase is scheduled to take effect in July, with the same annual increase to follow each year.
The gas tax is the state’s single largest source of transportation funding. Pulling that revenue, even temporarily, would put road repairs and construction projects across the state at risk.
“The gas tax is integral to the budget that we just passed here again that keeps our transportation system moving,” said state Rep. Andrew Barkis, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee.
In March, Congressmember Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., called on state leaders to temporarily suspend the state’s Climate Commitment Act, which he said adds an estimated 40 to 50 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas.
“Washingtonians are not just paying the price for Iran’s rogue behavior; they are paying a heavy premium driven by state policy,” Baumgartner said. “This climate change surcharge is little more than a vanity project designed to make people in downtown Seattle feel good about themselves, while severely penalizing working people across the rest of the state.”
Gas prices have risen nationally over the past week as uncertainty remains around whether oil will be able to move through the Strait of Hormuz. Talks between the U.S. and Iran have also stalled, prompting market reactions.
The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude rose to $95.94 on Monday, up more than $7 from the previous week. Brent crude reached $106.98 per barrel, nearly $5 higher than the week before.
Analysts with GasBuddy said Monday that prices are expected to rise further this week.
“Looking ahead, volatility is likely to remain elevated,” GasBuddy said in a blog post. “With negotiations stalled and restrictions still in place, markets will continue to react quickly to any signs of escalation or renewed diplomatic efforts.”
Nationally, a gallon of gas averaged $4.17 on Tuesday morning. Washington had the third-highest average in the nation behind California and Hawaii.
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