•  The national average price for gas in 2012 was $3.60 per gallon, which is the most expensive annual average on record. The previous annual record was $3.51 a gallon set in 2011, while the third most expensive year for gas prices nationwide was 2008, when the average was $3.25 per gallon.
•  "Record high gas prices have made this the most expensive year yet for motorists nationwide and here in South Dakota," said Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota. "Factors as volatile as major hurricanes, refinery outages and tension in the Middle East resulted in significant frustration at the

pump."
•  The national average has broken a daily record high for 134 consecutive days for a total a 248 days in 2012. Motorists paid record-high gas prices on 68 percent of the days during the year.
•  The highest daily national average of the year was $3.94 a gallon on April 5 and 6, while the lowest daily national average was $3.22 a gallon on Dec. 20.
•  South Dakota's highest daily gas price average for the year was $3.90, experienced on both Sept. 18 and Sept. 19.
•  The states with the most expensive annual averages for 2012 included Hawaii ($4.31), Alaska ($4.09), Calif. ($4.03), N.Y. ($3.90) and Conn. ($3.90). The states with the cheapest annual averages included S.C. ($3.35), Mo. ($3.38), Miss. ($3.39), Tenn. ($3.40) and Okla. ($3.41).
•  The highest daily statewide average of the year was $4.67 in Calif. on Oct. 9, while the lowest daily statewide average was $2.91 a gallon in South Carolina on July 3.
•  The daily average for regular gasoline dropped below $3.00 per gallon in only eight states at some point during the year, while daily averages increased above $4.00 per gallon in 11 states (and Washington D.C.) at some point.

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