Gas prices continue to climb in metro area, state, nation

ALBANY — With what many local drivers are calling the annual “spring break gas gouge,” prices at the pump in the Albany metro area continued their rapid climb over the last week.

According to gas surveyor AAA-The Auto Club Group, which surveys thousands of gas stations across the region, state and nation to calculate up-to-the-minute prices at the pump, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the Albany area rose 6.9 cents over the past week. That increase, to $2.574 per gallon, is 14.9 cents more than a month ago and 37.8 cents more than a year ago.

Prices have also risen across the state of Georgia and the nation, according to AAA and fellow surveyor GasBuddy. The latter had the state average at $2.56 a gallon Monday, 6.1 cents more than last week, while the former had the state’s average at $2.58, an 8-cent uptick over the past week.

Nationally, GasBuddy had the average at $2.65, a 4.1-cents-per-gallon increase, while AAA had the U.S. average slightly higher at $2.659, a 4.8-cents increase.

“As the basketball version of March Madness wraps up today, it’s just getting established at gas pumps across the country,” GasBuddy head of petroleum analysis Patrick DeHann said. “This past week has not only brought higher gas prices, but in addition, the national average finds itself mere days away from rising to the highest level seen in nearly 1,000 days.

“The usual suspects are at play, leaving little surprise to the higher prices we’re facing, but that’s little comfort to motorists being hit with gas prices in 17 states that have risen over 15 cents per gallon in the last 30 days alone. Think of the spring surge as a bit of a race — some states will see their price rally early and fast-paced, while others may lag behind — so no matter if prices near you surged or haven’t yet, we’re all going to eventually feel a similar rise among all states.”

According to AAA, the most expensive gas price averages in Georgia are in Hinesville-Fort Stewart ($2.63), Brunswick ($2.63) and Savannah ($2.61). The least expensive averages are in Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($2.48), Warner Robins ($2.50) and Rome ($2.51).

“Strong demand, tightening supplies and record-high gasoline exports gave gas prices a boost this week,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. “Pump prices seemed to have stalled over the weekend, but there is still potential for higher prices this spring.”

AAA officials said that gas prices had the most expensive March in four years, averaging $2.45 for the entire month — an increase of 27 cents from March 2017. Georgia motorists are now spending nearly 40 cents per gallon more than this time last year. This week’s average is the highest since October, when gas prices were recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Harvey.