A Search for 'Cheap' Gas in Essex-Middle River

The pain at the pump continues to get worse.

According to the latest AAA survey, the national average price of regular grade gasoline increased 15 cents in one week to $3.50 a gallon. This compares to $2.74 a gallon a year ago and just 61 cents shy of the all-time high of $4.11 a gallon set in July 2008. The average price for regular unleaded in Maryland reached $3.48 a gallon on Sunday, up 17 cents from last week and $2.70 a gallon a year ago.

Crude oil prices settled at $104.42 a barrel Friday, up 6.7 percent on the week.  According to AAA, while continued unrest and production stoppages in Libya continue to drive crude oil prices higher, the market has also been driven by investor fears that the unrest and disruptions will spread to oil heavyweights like Iran and Saudi Arabia, creating a massive supply crunch.

AAA also reports that continued uncertainty in the oil-rich regions of North Africa and the Middle East will likely drive crude oil and gas price higher in the week ahead.  Analysts also believe prices will reach $3.75 a gallon by April.

Here are the cheapest gas prices in the Essex-Middle River area according to MarylandGasPrices.com.