If you want to save some money on gas, consider this: Fill up on a Sunday or Monday.
And maybe even on Saturday.
Essentially, though, experts say patience and a little timing could pay off.
What day of the week is gas cheapest?
GasBuddy, which tracks prices at more than 150,000 gas stations nationally, analyzed gas price patterns and found that the beginning of the week is statistically when you will get the best price, often 4 to 9 cents a gallon less.
If you are really lucky, you could save 15 to 45 cents a gallon.
“Gas prices don’t just move based on global oil markets — they also follow a weekly rhythm,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted. “For most drivers, Sunday is the safest bet for finding lower prices, while filling up midweek can mean paying more.”
Why gas prices follow a weekly cycle
In a handful of states — Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Texas — prices tend to follow a pattern known as price cycling, De Haan said. In those markets, prices go up, and then come down again, rising gradually until there’s another spike.
GasBuddy found that gasoline prices start low on Sunday and Monday. Then, by midweek, particularly Wednesday through Friday, it tends to be more expensive.
Then, they go down.
The reason for this, De Haan said, is tied to gas-price competition.
By Saturday, the stations start to reset their prices.
“These states experience sharper and more predictable weekly swings,” De Haan said, adding that “if drivers notice a big jump, patience can pay off. Waiting several days after a spike often leads to better prices.”
How much you can save by timing fill‑ups
The best savings, GasBuddy found, often come five to seven days after a price jump, and the gap between buying at the peak of a spike and the bottom of the cycle can be 15 to 45 cents per gallon or more.
You also can use apps, like GasBuddy’s Find Cheap Fuel app, that tell you where to find lower prices.
Overall, the key to unlocking prices is what your old man may have told you when you first started driving, to keep an eye on the gas gauge so it’s never running on empty — that way, you can time your stops and fill-ups when prices are lower.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best day to buy gas? Why Sunday and Monday may be cheapest to fill up
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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