By Matt Roy
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Despite fears of escalating Persian Gulf tensions, the price of gas at the pump, both locally and nationally, appears to have held steady.

As recently as Friday  — following announcement of a U.S. drone strike, which killed Gen. Qasseem Soleimani, Iran’s top military leader  — an initial surge in crude oil prices led some to predict sharper increases would follow.

“The heightened geopolitical risk sent oil prices higher Friday. Benchmark U.S. crude climbed $1.87, or 3.1%, to settle at $63.05 per barrel. It had been up 3.6% earlier in the day. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose $2.35, or 3.5%, to close at $68.60 per barrel,” the Associated Press reported early Friday.

But four days later, amidst threats of Iranian retaliation and calls from the Iraqi government for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops, the Brent crude and other oil price benchmarks have remained virtually unchanged.

According to AAA, the national per-gallon gas price held steady, averaging $2.585 Tuesday as compared to $2.583 a week ago and $2.581 a month ago.

In Arizona, the Tuesday average of $2.829 per gallon actually declined from the $2.835 reported the previous week or the $2.900 notched the previous month.

Across the state, Maricopa County has the highest average price at $2.976 per gallon, while the least expensive fill-ups may be gotten in Greenlee County and Pima County, where the prices reached an average of $2.474 and $2.476 respectively.

Among Valley communities, Glendale settled near the low end with a $2.951 per-gallon average, while Scottsdale topped its neighbors with an average price of $3.041.

As prices hover, some experts still worry the Iran crisis may yet destabilize international oil markets.

“It’s typical to see crude oil prices push more expensive amid current events,” stated AAA spokeswoman Jeanette Casselano in a Monday release. “What this increase means in terms of retail prices is yet be seen. It depends on how expensive crude oil prices go and the duration at which it sells at a higher price point.”

Even while U.S. forces continue to redeploy in Middle East, consumers at home may not be as susceptible to spikes in commodity prices, since many have already curbed their appetite for gasoline, according to the AP.

“Analysts noted that American households devote a smaller proportion of their spending to energy bills than in the past. That is in contrast to previous periods, when a surge in oil prices often preceded recessions,” the AP reported Monday. “The proportion of their spending that U.S. consumers devote to energy has fallen to a historic low of 2.5%, down from more than 6% in the early 1980s ...”

Fuel-saving advice

Regardless of price, some drivers may still seek savings  — for those frugal-minded motorists, AAA offers a variety of suggestions to reduce dependence. How we drive can save money and improve traffic safety, according to AAA.

“Studies have repeatedly shown that personal driving habits are the single biggest factor that affects vehicle fuel consumption. Adopting new and improved driving behaviors not only makes car travel safer, it can contribute to significant savings at the gas pump,” the association stated at its website, gasprices.aaa.com.

Among a broad range of recommendations are the following cost-saving strategies, likely useful to drivers regardless of political climate or current events.

• Purchase a fuel-efficient car; most drivers have no practical use for larger, more-powerful engine options offered by some manufacturers.
• Follow manufacturers’ guidance for proper maintenance; regular service may ensure both fuel efficiency and vehicle longevity.
• Don’t hesitate to get a vehicle serviced when a “check engine” light appears; a minor repair issue could affect efficiency and increase emissions.
• Maintain proper tire inflation; under-inflation can hurt fuel efficiency, degrade handling and braking, increase wear, and lead to dangerous overheating and blowouts.
• Drive slower; aerodynamic drag increases at higher speeds, increasing fuel consumption.
• Avoid so-called “jackrabbit” starts and accelerate more gently to reduce fuel waste.
• For stops longer than 60 seconds, turn of the vehicle rather than idling; and avoid long warm-ups.
• When traveling, use the cruise control to get the most mileage per gallon; but never use cruise control on slick roads.
• When possible, avoid using air conditioning; even on the freeway, an open window has less effect on aerodynamic drag than the power expended to run the compressor.
• Plan ahead to “kill two birds” when out running errands and reduce miles driven.
• When possible, travel outside of high-traffic times to reduce idle times in traffic.

And dispelling one myth, officials suggest sticking with the lower-priced fuels, since premium test fuels may not offer efficiency gains for motorists.

“AAA research has found that unless premium fuel is recommended or required by your car’s manufacturer, it provides no added benefit. Motorists should refer to their vehicle’s owner’s manual to check which type of gasoline is recommended for their engine,” the association stated.