Welcome to the Gas Prices section of the Attorney General’s website. Although the Attorney General's Office cannot control gas prices, it has an important role to play in ensuring a competitive environment that is free of illegal price manipulation.
Over the past several years, gas prices have steadily increased, both locally and on a nationwide basis. Many consumers are concerned about this trend and want to know why gas prices have fluctuated so extensively in recent years. To help answer this question, the Attorney General's Office has compiled two resources for consumers:
The Attorney General’s Office recently concluded a year-long study of gas prices in Washington state. The study is comprised of two phases: Phase I is a fact-finding stage focused primarily on gathering current and historical gas prices from around the state. Phase II analyzes the various factors affecting pricing patterns in the state and also addresses potential market anomalies. To complete the study, the Attorney General’s Office worked with University of Washington economist Dr. Keith Leffler and met with both industry participants and experts. The Gas Price Study is the state’s most comprehensive investigation of gas prices in 16 years. Click here to learn more.
The Antitrust Division regularly monitors and collects gasoline pricing information to determine whether price increases indicate possible anticompetitive behavior or reflect normal market forces. The division publishes these figures on a quarterly basis in its Quarterly Gasoline Report. The Quarterly Gasoline Report discusses circumstances unique to the West Coast and Washington, in particular that impact the price of gasoline. It also addresses efforts by the Attorney General’s Office to keep the marketplace free of collusive and deceptive practices and outlines the basic market forces that affect price fluctuations. Click here to visit the Antitrust Quarterly Gasoline Report page.
The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice have also substantially increased efforts to investigate price gouging. You can find more information here.