Gas Prices Back on the Rise

Any hope for additional relief at the pump disappeared over the last week.

The average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline jumped six cents to $3.46 on Sunday, according to the latest survey from AAA. In Maryland, the average price for regular unleaded increased by seven cents to $3.39 on Sunday.

The increases come after four straight weeks of declines in fuel prices, according to AAA. Still, the prices are far below the all-time high of $4.11 a gallon nationally set three summers ago.

Most of the increase is due to a rise in crude oil prices, which closed last week at $86.80 a barrel, up from $82.98 a week ago, according to AAA.

“After several weeks of relief at the pump, motorists are now faced with the reality of a reversal of trend,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Ragina C. Averella said in a statement.

“Gas prices mirrored crude oil increases this week, ending a four-week run of gas price declines. Motorists may want to fill up their tanks this weekend, as some analysts suggest gas prices will rise gradually over the next week or two, some rising as much as 10 cents by Halloween.”

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