Motorists are continuing to see sharply higher prices at the pumps across the region and across the nation.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in New Jersey on Friday was $3.63, up 6 cents from last week. That's also higher than the price from a year ago, when motorists were paying $3.54.
However, those prices are the lowest in the region, as Delaware motorists will have to pay $3.69 for an average gallon of regular gas. And in the Philadelphia area, that average cost of a gallon rises to $3.78, up from $3.70 at this time last year and $3.46 just one month ago.
Meanwhile, the national average price rose 14 cents to $3.78. That's also higher than the national average from a year ago, when motorists were paying $3.61.
Analysts say the higher gas prices are mainly due to the trend of refineries across the U.S. performing seasonal maintenance and making the switch-over to summer blend gasoline production earlier than normal.
Rising crude oil prices have also played a role, though oil prices have eased in recent days.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
