Jump in Gas Prices Biggest in 6 Months

Gasoline prices registered their biggest weekly rise since September, rising 2.8 cents a gallon over the last week to a national average of $1.144, the Energy Department reported Monday.

Gasoline prices were highest on the West Coast, where the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline rose 2.1cents to $1.276. Prices were lowest in the Southeast, from Virginia to Florida, where regular gasoline rose 0.9 cent to an average $1.055 a gallon.

The pump price of regular gasoline is still down 27 cents from a year ago, according to the department’s weekly survey of more than 800 service stations. Prices are down from last year because of more supplies.

However, gas prices have been rising as the U.S. looks toward its busy summer driving season, and the latest spike in gasoline prices is the biggest weekly increase since the week ended Sept. 3. In addition, oil prices have jumped 25% since mid-January. Crude futures closed Monday at $22.45 a barrel, up 5 cents, in New York trading.

The national average price for cleaner-burning reformulated gasoline, sold at one-third of the stations in cities and smoggier areas, was up 2.2 cents to $1.196 a gallon.

San Francisco was the top spot among major cities in fuel costs, with gasoline prices up 3.7 cents to $1.343 a gallon. Houston was again the best deal at the pump, but the price was still up, rising 0.2 cent to $1.041.

The report also showed gasoline prices were up 2.3 cents in Los Angeles at $1.303, up 0.3 cent in New York at $1.165, down 0.4 cent in Denver at $1.135 and up 6.7 cents in Chicago at $1.201.

The average price nationwide for diesel fuel increased 1.9 cents to $1.173 a gallon, down 25 cents from a year ago.

Truckers in New England paid the most for diesel fuel at $1.289 a gallon, up 0.3 cent. The Gulf Coast states had the cheapest diesel at $1.144 a gallon, up 1.8 cents.