Gas Prices Inch Up Yet Again

While gas prices remained constant nationally, the cost of filling up in Maryland inched up slightly last week, according to the latest AAA survey.

The average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded nationally was $3.46 on Sunday, where it was a week ago. In Maryland, the cost rose to $3.41 a gallon, up two cents from last week, according to the survey.

Once again, the cost of gasoline coincides with the price of crude oil, which closed Friday at $87.40 a barrel, up from $86.80 a week earlier, according to AAA. 

“For the second straight week, motorists continue to feel price hikes at the pumps,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Ragina C. Averella in a statement. 

“Economic fears, nationally and internationally, have fueled the recent rise in crude oil prices, which ultimately leads to gas price increases. Gas prices could buck typical downward seasonal trends with an autumn and early winter upswing, rather than previously forecast declines.”

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