LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gasoline prices are once again rising in the Louisville area and beyond.
The average price for a gallon of gas increased 16.2 cents last week to $3.17, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 644 stations in the city. Prices are 23.3 cents higher than a month ago and 16 cents higher than a year ago.
The cheapest station in Louisville was priced Sunday at $2.92 a gallon, while the most expensive was $3.39.
The national average for regular gas is $3.34. The national average for diesel fuel dropped 2.7 cents last week to $4.03.
"A majority of the nation's 50 states have seen gasoline prices rise, with the national average posting a gain for the second straight week -- a trend that is hardly surprising for this time of year and will likely continue as the entire nation has now made the first step toward summer gasoline," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "The pinch at the pump has been manageable for now, with prices about 30 cents higher than mid-January, but that will likely change as we enter the madness we tend to see in March with refinery maintenance hitting its peak, impacting how much gasoline can be produced as we make the changeover to the summer blends. This always crimps supply, leading to further gas price increases."
According to the Energy Information Administration, gas demand increased last week from 8.2 million barrels per day to 8.47 million. Total domestic gasoline stocks declined by 2.8 million barrels to 244.2 million.
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