Gas continues its spring rise

ALBANY — Gas is up for gas-ups around most of the country.

“With all but two states seeing average gasoline prices rise over the last week, the jump at the pump has continued,” Patrick DeHaan, the senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, said. “Over half of the nation’s 50 states saw prices rise by more than a nickel in the last week, while five saw a jump of double digits.”

Georgia fell in that upper half of increases. The state average rose 7.7 cents in a week to the Monday-morning benchmark of $2.276 on GasBuddy’s Fuel Insights survey report. AAA, which also surveys thousands of gas retailers nationwide, had the average a tenth of a cent higher, but its survey pegged the weekly difference at 7.4 cents per gallon.

Nationally Monday, AAA had the average at $2.389, below the $2.396 of GasBuddy’s survey. That was an average increase of 6.5 cents in a week on the two surveys.

Market watchers had been predicting the traditional “spring sting” at the pump since mid-February, While it was delayed, it appears it has finally gotten under way.

“This is the type of volatility we’ve come to expect this time of year,” Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA Auto Club Group, said. “The major factors weighing on the market right now are supply and demand. People are beginning to drive more as the weather improves, causing an uptick in demand and a decline in gasoline inventories.

“Also, many refineries have begun producing and selling summer-blend fuels, which are more expensive to produce.”

AAA is forecasts the national average to peak around $2.70 this summer. Though the usual market conditions are fueling the rise, it doesn’t make it any easier on the driver’s wallet.

“While the continued increases are completely seasonal in nature, it’s not any easier for motorists to digest,” DeHaan said. “Oil now stands $5 per barrel higher than just a few weeks ago and is the main culprit for rising gasoline prices.

“Many areas are also nearing completion of the transition to summer gasoline, and with it comes a complex list of various summer blends of gasoline that cause us to pay more each spring. In addition, with the situation in Syria, there is a rising risk of more heat between some of the world’s largest oil producers, causing concern in oil markets which could be a slight contribution to higher prices.”

U.S. crude closed at $53.08 a barrel Monday afternoon, up from $52.24 Friday.

According to the Fuel Gauge Report, the five-county metro Albany area was again about middle of the pack among the state’s eight largest metro areas. The average cost of a gallon of gas in Albany on Monday was $2.233, 8.7 cents higher in a week and 11.3 cents higher than March 10.

Metro Augusta again had the state’s lowest average at $2.155, followed by Macon, $2.199, and Columbus, $2.202. Metro Atlanta was highest at $2.309.

Those prices are all much higher than motorists enjoyed last year. On April 10, 2016, the metro Albany average was $1.938, while Georgians were paying $2.003 and U.S. drivers were seeing $2.043 at the pump.