Salisbury-Area Gas Runs About $1 a Gallon Above Last Year, With Diesel Up Nearly $2.70

EASTON, MARYLAND — Regular gas in the Salisbury area, the only Eastern Shore metro area on AAA's Maryland page, costs about $1 a gallon more than it did a year ago, and diesel costs nearly $2.70 more, according to AAA's daily averages. AAA does not publish a separate average for Easton or Talbot County.

AAA's Salisbury average for regular was $3.95 a gallon on Oct. 27, compared with $2.93 a year ago. Diesel averaged $6.31, up from $3.63 a year ago. Both have eased lately. Regular was $4.05 a week ago and $4.39 a month ago. Diesel was $6.33 a week ago and $6.49 a month ago. AAA lists the Salisbury area's highest recorded diesel average as $6.50, set Sept. 21.

Salisbury's prices ran a little below the statewide averages of $4.01 for regular and $6.34 for diesel.

Federal figures show the same trend. The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Central Atlantic average for regular was $4.31 for the week of Oct. 19, down 3.5 cents from the week before and $1.25 above a year earlier. The agency's next weekly update is scheduled for Oct. 27.

State relief for farm and timber haulers runs on a set schedule. Under the governor's emergency diesel order, the state of emergency lasts 30 days and can be renewed, but not past Dec. 31, 2026, according to a Maryland Department of Agriculture fact sheet. The order lets qualifying agricultural and forestry haulers use dyed diesel in on-road vehicles and waives fees for 30-day Exceptional Hauling Permits. Within 21 days of the order, the department must report to the governor on how much the relief has been used and whether to renew, modify or end it.