Gas prices rose slightly in the past week, thanks to a spike in crude oil prices, AAA reported.
The price at the pump for regular rose about two cents a gallon, with a slight increase over the weekend.
Bridgeville in Sussex County was the area with the lowest prices in the state with at least one station charging $3.45 a gallon, according to AAA’s Gas Price Finder.
The national average for a gallon of gas as been largely unchanged in a volatile market. This lack of price movement came despite an uptick in gas demand and rising oil prices. Crude oil, at last report, was trading below $83 a barrel.
Below are gas prices as of Monday
| Regular | Mid-Grade | Premium | Diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Avg. | $3.716 | $4.201 | $4.477 | $4.143 |
| Yesterday Avg. | $3.710 | $4.183 | $4.476 | $4.140 |
| Week Ago Avg. | $3.690 | $4.162 | $4.445 | $4.025 |
| Month Ago Avg. | $3.439 | $3.903 | $4.187 | $3.697 |
| Year Ago Avg. | $3.885 | $4.372 | $4.642 | $4.853 |
“We appear to be at a fork in the road when it comes to which direction gas prices will take – up or down,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “The summer heat that kept people home and suppressed refinery production has eased for now, so we have to look at the cost of oil to determine if the recent price climb is ending. More expensive oil will likely lead to higher prices, so stay tuned.”
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration, gas demand jumped from 8.84 to 9.30 million barrels a day last week.
Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased from 219.1 to 216.4 million barrels. Higher demand, amid tighter supply, helped keep pump prices elevated. If demand remains high, alongside increasing oil prices, drivers should brace for increases in pump prices.
Drivers can find current gas prices along their travel route using the AAA TripTik Travel planner.
