WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Prices at the pump are picking up in Whatcom County to start off 2026.

AAA reports that a gallon of gas in the county currently costs $4.05 on average.

That’s up over 20 cents from a week ago and more than 40 cents from a month ago.

That same trend is being felt throughout the state, where the average gallon of gas costs $4.15.

Washington remains the third-most expensive state in the country for gas, sitting more than $1.20 over the national average.

GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan says prices could get even steeper in the coming weeks as refinery maintenance ramps up and the broader transition to summer gasoline begins.

But he adds that OPEC resuming production after a first-quarter pause could counteract that seasonal increase.