WASHINGTON and BOSTON -- Spring has sprung, and so have gas prices.
The national retail average price of regular gasoline leapt 6 cents per gallon (CPG) over the past week, marking the biggest weekly increase of this year, according to Washington, D.C.-based AAA. The average at the start of the week hit $1.81 per gallon and will probably move higher as refineries get deeper into spring maintenance.
In five states, the average was greater than $2 per gallon. The highest prices were in Hawaii ($2.54 per gallon) and the western states of California ($2.45), Alaska ($2.16), Washington ($2.10) and Nevada ($2.04). Twenty states had averages at $1.75 per gallon or lower, compared to the more than 30 states the week prior below that price point. The lowest state averages were in Arizona and South Carolina, both at $1.55 per gallon.
Gas prices rose on a weekly basis in 48 states, according to AAA, with the biggest increases in Michigan (up 14 CPG), Colorado (12 CPG), and West Virginia and Kansas, both up 11 CPG. The biggest weekly price declines were in Alaska, which was off 5 CPG, and Hawaii (down 3 CPG).
On a monthly basis, averages were up in 26 states, per AAA, led by states in the Midwest. These include Michigan and Minnesota, where the averages rose 34 CPG, Ohio (33 CPG) and Indiana (28 CPG). Meanwhile, averages fell month over month in 24 states and Washington, D.C., with Arizona (down 22 CPG), Alaska (20 CPG) and Nevada (17 CPG) seeing the biggest declines.
On a monthly basis, the national average is also 6 CPG higher; however, it is still 65 CPG less than this same time a year ago, according to AAA. And in 44 states and D.C., the average is 50 CPG or less compared to a year ago. California (down 98 CPG), Arizona (91 CPG), Oregon (90 CPG) and Nevada (83 CPG) had the greatest yearly discounts.
Boston-based GasBuddy reported that 93.1% of gas stations were selling regular-grade gasoline at more than $1.50. This compares to the 85.2% of sites selling above that price point a week ago, and the 76.7% of stations above $1.50 a month ago.
The national diesel average rose slightly to $1.989 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
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